Military air strikes kill 36 terrorists in multiple Borno precision operations

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Nigerian military has said its air component under Operation Hadin Kai carried out a series of intelligence-led precision strikes on terrorist concentrations in Borno State, neutralising about 36 suspected terrorists in separate operations.

The strikes were conducted between the night of August 21 and the early hours of August 22, 2026, at different locations across the state, following intelligence reports and confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions.

According to a statement by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, the air operations targeted suspected terrorists who were detected moving and gathering at locations in Monguno and Biu Local Government Areas.

In one of the operations, an armed reconnaissance platform detected and tracked suspected terrorists around the Aduwa axis of Monguno Local Government Area before identifying a larger concentration within a settlement.

Following surveillance and the required operational authorisation, the military conducted two precision strikes on the identified concentration.

The military said subsequent Battle Damage Assessment indicated that about 16 terrorists were neutralised in the strikes.

The aircraft continued surveillance of the area and later detected another group of about 10 suspected terrorists attempting to regroup away from the initial target. A further precision strike was conducted, with the military reporting that the group was successfully engaged.

In a separate operation around Buratai in Biu Local Government Area, another Operation Hadin Kai air platform tracked a group of suspected terrorists gathered at a location.

After sustained surveillance and the requisite authorisation, the platform carried out a precision strike on the target, with the military reporting that about 10 terrorists were neutralised.

The military said the latest operations demonstrated the growing effectiveness of its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities in detecting terrorist movements and disrupting their attempts to assemble, regroup or operate freely.

It said the sustained air campaign was also intended to restrict the terrorists’ freedom of action, disrupt their command and control structures and place additional pressure on their logistics and fighting formations.

The operations form part of the broader counter-terrorism campaign by Operation Hadin Kai to degrade terrorist capabilities and create a safer environment for communities across the North-East.

The military said its kinetic operations were being complemented by non-kinetic measures, including community engagement, strategic communication, counter-messaging and humanitarian coordination.

It also encouraged terrorists and their associates to abandon violence and surrender, saying the increasing number of surrenders recorded in recent weeks reflected the growing pressure on terrorist networks.

Operation Hadin Kai urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information to security forces, stressing that community cooperation remained critical to detecting threats early and protecting lives and property.

The Joint Task Force said it would continue coordinated operations against terrorist networks while supporting efforts to restore peace, security and normal socio-economic activity across the North-East.