The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced that multiple air strikes conducted by its fighter jets have killed several Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Mallam Fatori and Shuwaram areas of Borno State, while also destroying bandit enclaves in Kwara and Katsina States.

NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed in a statement on Monday that the coordinated operations were carried out on Sunday, November 10, following real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

“Air assets conducted precision strikes southeast of Shuwaram before shifting to Mallam Fatori, where ISWAP elements were observed mobilising with motorcycles and boats along the Lake Chad Basin,” the statement said.

“The strikes destroyed insurgent hideouts, logistics hubs, and weapons storage facilities, eliminating several terrorists and crippling their mobility capabilities.”

Post-strike assessments confirmed multiple neutralisations and a significant degradation of ISWAP’s operational networks across the Northern Tumbuns.

While operations against ISWAP were ongoing in the North East, NAF aircraft also executed precision air interdiction missions over Garin Dandi and Chigogo in Kwara State, targeting bandit camps “with devastating accuracy.” According to Ejodame, the attacks were based on credible intelligence and inflicted heavy losses on the criminal groups.

In a similar operation under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, NAF air assets struck Zango Hill in Kankara Local Government Area, Katsina State, where a notorious terrorist leader and his fighters were taking refuge. The air strikes destroyed their logistics hubs and neutralised several of the insurgents in what the Air Force described as one of its most decisive operations in the North West in recent times.

The statement further noted that armed reconnaissance missions were conducted across Zamfara, Kebbi, and Kaduna States, covering locations such as Kakihum, Dankolo, Kotonkoro, and Kuyello, known to be key hideouts and routes for armed groups operating along the Birnin Gwari–Funtua axis.

“During the mission, coordination with Forward Operating Bases revealed suspicious movement near Wam Hill, where terrorists on motorcycles were spotted attempting to flee. The aircrew swiftly engaged and neutralised the targets, with no further hostile activity observed,” Ejodame added.

The Air Force credited the success of these operations to the renewed tempo of coordinated intelligence-driven missions under the directive of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke.

“Each mission reaffirms NAF’s resolve to project smarter and intelligence-driven airpower to deliver purposeful lethality against insurgents and criminals while protecting the lives and properties of citizens,” the statement concluded.