According to reports, during a precision airstrike conducted as part of Operation HADIN KAI, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) neutralised roughly 12 suspected rebels and destroyed a suspected terrorist enclave in Borno State.
Zagazola Makama, a security expert, reported on the operation.
The report states that the bombing was carried out on August 4 in response to intelligence showing increased terrorist activity in the vicinity of Chiralia, a heavily forested location thought to have served as an insurgent stronghold due to its challenging terrain and natural cover.
According to Makama, an armed reconnaissance mission over the region was conducted at approximately 11:40 a.m. using an Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform.
Along with a number of hidden buildings thought to have functioned as operational shelters, logistical hubs, and staging areas for rebel operations, the aircraft reportedly spotted suspected terrorists moving within the area during the surveillance operation.
According to the report, “attack aircraft carried out precision strikes on the identified locations, recording direct hits on the concealed structures after confirming the targets.”
According to Makama, a post-strike Battle Damage Assessment verified that around 12 militants were neutralised during the operation, and the suspected terrorist camp and its supporting infrastructure were destroyed.
Makama added that more weapons, equipment, and supplies kept within the enclave may have also been destroyed due to subsequent explosions and fires seen during the attack.
According to the paper, military insiders characterised the mission as an intelligence-driven operation that mirrored the increasing coordination between precision attack capabilities and aerial surveillance under Operation HADIN KAI.
By depriving the terrorist cell of a safe haven and interfering with its ability to reorganise, plan attacks, and maintain supplies inside the region, the operation is anticipated to reduce the terrorist cell’s operational capabilities, according to the sources.
Although the overall security situation in the theatre is still relatively calm, Makama stated that military authorities believe the threat is still unpredictable due to the insurgents’ fluid movement. He also added that troops will continue to conduct persistent offensive operations against terrorist hideouts throughout the Northeast.