By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday, January13,2026 carried out a missile strike that killed more than 10 fighters linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) during coordinated air operations across parts of Borno and Yobe states, military sources have confirmed.
The strikes, conducted by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai targeted suspected ISWAP positions in the Timbuktu Triangle and along the Ambia Tasha, Ambia Sheruri, Ambia Turo, and Shangamaru axis of Yobe State.
The operation was executed after real-time intelligence, gathered through unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), identified the movement and concealment of insurgents in the area.
According to Zagazola Makama, a publication that monitors security developments around the Lake Chad region, aerial surveillance first detected a group of approximately 10 ISWAP fighters armed with motorcycles and bicycles beneath a large, thick tree.
Intelligence assessments further indicated that additional fighters were concealed within a nearby forest canopy.
Following authorisation from command authorities, the NAF air component engaged the targets with precision-guided munitions. As a result, several terrorist assets, including motorcycles used for mobility and logistics, were destroyed during the strike.
Zagazola reported that a post-strike damage assessment confirmed significant casualties among the insurgents, noting that only one individual was observed escaping from the impact zone.
Subsequently, military sources explained that the operation forms part of sustained efforts to restrict ISWAP’s freedom of movement, disrupt supply routes, and prevent attacks on civilian communities across the north-east.
The sources added that aerial surveillance and targeted air strikes would continue in close coordination with ground forces until remaining threats in the region are neutralised.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force said the latest operation aligns with broader counterterrorism efforts underway across multiple theatres.
Earlier this month, air strikes conducted in parts of the north-east and north-west reportedly destroyed terrorist hideouts, eliminated weapons and logistics infrastructure, and killed several fighters.
In a statement, Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF Headquarters, said the operations were conducted between January 1 and 2 through joint task forces operating under Operation Hadin Kai and Operation Fasan Yamma Sector 2.
Ejodame emphasized that the strikes demonstrated the military’s continued reliance on intelligence-driven air power to degrade terrorist capabilities and support ongoing ground operations.
Ultimately, security officials say the sustained use of surveillance, precision strikes, and joint-force coordination remains central to Nigeria’s strategy to weaken insurgent networks and stabilise affected communities across the country’s conflict-prone regions.
Source: Cable
