By Harriet Tornguvan
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified its offensive against terrorist groups in the North-East, carrying out precision airstrikes that destroyed key terrorist strongholds and logistics facilities in the Southern Tumbuns and Mandara Mountains.
The coordinated strikes, conducted on May 19, 2026, targeted Bukar Meram in the Southern Tumbuns and Chikide in the Mandara Mountains under the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the operations were launched following credible intelligence reports and confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
The statement said the air offensives successfully destroyed terrorist logistics hubs, structures and assembly areas concealed within the enclaves. Several terrorists were also neutralised during the operations, while planned attacks by the insurgents were disrupted.
NAF said the strikes formed part of ongoing efforts to degrade terrorist capabilities and deny criminal elements freedom of action across the North-East theatre of operations.
Speaking on the development, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led and coordinated joint military operations aimed at eliminating terrorism and restoring peace nationwide.
Aneke stressed that the NAF would continue to work closely with sister security services and allied partners to identify and destroy terrorist hideouts, logistics networks and operational bases wherever they are located.
He noted that intelligence-driven air operations remain critical to weakening terrorist infrastructure and supporting ground forces in ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
The latest strikes underscore renewed military efforts to dismantle insurgent networks and strengthen security across the North-East region.
