OPHK airstrikes neutralise scores of terrorists in Borno

Air platforms of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have conducted a series of intelligence-led precision strikes on terrorist concentrations in different locations across Borno State, reportedly killing scores of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

The operations, conducted between the night of August 21 and the early hours of August 22, 2026, followed credible intelligence and confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions that identified movements and concentrations of suspected terrorists.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni.

Goni said the strikes successfully degraded the identified targets and disrupted attempts by terrorist elements to assemble, regroup and operate freely within the theatre.

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

“Following appropriate operational procedures and authorisation, a precision strike was conducted against the identified target. Subsequent Battle Damage Assessment indicated significant effects on the terrorist concentration, with about 16 terrorists neutralised in two precision strikes,” he said.

Goni said the platform continued surveillance of the area and subsequently detected another group of terrorists attempting to regroup away from the initial target location.

“A further precision engagement was conducted, with subsequent assessment indicating that the identified group of about 10 terrorists had also been successfully engaged,” he said.

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

He said following sustained surveillance and the requisite authorisation, the platform conducted a precision strike that successfully impacted the identified target, “taking out about 10 other terrorists.”

According to Goni, the operations demonstrated the growing effectiveness of OPHK’s integrated ISR capabilities in detecting and disrupting terrorist movements before they develop into threats against troops and vulnerable communities.

He said the operations also showed that attempts by terrorist elements to conceal their movements, disperse into smaller groups or exploit remote locations could not guarantee freedom from detection.

“Beyond the immediate operational effects, the latest strikes are expected to further weaken terrorist freedom of action, disrupt their command and control, and place additional pressure on their logistics and fighting formations,” he said.

Goni said the strikes formed part of the broader campaign by Operation HADIN KAI to degrade terrorist capabilities while creating a more secure environment for communities across the North-East.

He added that the sustained kinetic pressure against terrorist networks was being complemented by non-kinetic efforts, including community engagement, strategic communication, counter-messaging, humanitarian coordination and efforts to encourage terrorists and their associates to abandon violence and surrender.

“The increasing number of surrenders recorded in recent weeks further reflects the growing pressure on terrorist networks and reinforces the message that there remains a credible pathway away from terrorism,” he said.

Operation HADIN KAI urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security forces.

Goni said community cooperation remained essential to early threat detection, protection of lives and property, and consolidation of gains recorded in the counter-terrorism campaign.

He said the Joint Task Force would continue to sustain coordinated operations against terrorist networks while supporting conditions for the restoration of peace, security and normal socio-economic activities across the North-East.