Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Air Force has announced that its air component of Operation HADIN KAI carried out successful precision airstrikes in the Yuwe axis of the Sambisa Forest on Monday, April 20, 2026, claiming that several terrorists were neutralised and key militant structures, including underground bunkers, were destroyed.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the operation followed sustained intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions that confirmed the presence of active terrorist fighters in fortified positions.
According to the NAF, the air assets engaged the identified targets with precision munitions, resulting in the destruction of the structures and the neutralisation of multiple insurgents. The Air Force also claimed that no civilian casualties were recorded during the mission, adding that a battle damage assessment confirmed the effectiveness of the strike.
The NAF statement further noted that the sustained tempo of air operations continues to degrade terrorist networks, leaving them increasingly exposed and forced into desperate actions.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, was quoted as commending the personnel involved and reaffirming the NAF's commitment to what he described as "relentless, intelligence-driven air operations until terrorist elements are completely neutralised." "We remain committed to the protection of our personnel, the security of our nation, and the safety of all citizens," Air Marshal Aneke said in the statement. The NAF's claims have not been independently verified, as access to the Sambisa Forest remains restricted due to ongoing military operations.
The Sambisa Forest has long served as a notorious stronghold for Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters, who have used its dense vegetation and rugged terrain to launch attacks on civilian and military targets across the North-East for over a decade.
The NAF's latest operation, if confirmed by independent sources, would represent a continuation of sustained military pressure aimed at dismantling insurgent capabilities in the region. However, the military has historically released operational claims that have sometimes differed from ground realities, and independent verification of casualty figures and structural damage remains difficult. Defence analysts have called for more transparency, including the release of post-strike imagery, to allow for objective assessment.
The NAF's announcement follows a pattern of similar claims in recent months. In December 2025, the Air Force reported killing over 40 terrorists in coordinated air strikes in the Azir and Musarram areas of Borno State.
In January 2026, it claimed that air assets carried out a successful interdiction at Musarram, targeting terrorists assembling on canoes to launch attacks along the Baga and Fish Dam axis. While these claims have been met with scepticism by some civil society groups and local residents who report ongoing insurgent activity, the military maintains that its operations are progressively degrading the capacity of terrorist networks. As of the time of this report, no independent confirmation has emerged regarding the latest airstrike in the Yuwe axis, and the NAF has not released video or photographic evidence beyond a short clip circulating on social media.
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