NAF destroys terrorist stronghold in Mandara Mountains during precision air strikes that disrupted logistics hubs and neutralised insurgents

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, operating under the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, has destroyed a terrorist stronghold in the Southern Tumbuns and Mandara Mountains area, carrying out precision air strikes that disrupted insurgent supply routes and logistics networks on 9 May, 2026.

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The operation targeted Bukar Meram in the Southern Tumbuns and Chikide within the Mandara Mountains, where intelligence-led missions identified concealed terrorist assembly points and supply hubs used for coordinating attacks across the region.

NAF destroys terrorist stronghold operation was executed following credible intelligence and confirmatory intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions that guided the precision strikes on key targets embedded within difficult terrain.

Air Commodore Ehimen, Director of Public Relations and Information, confirmed that the air component successfully neutralised several terrorists while also destroying structures and logistics facilities believed to be supporting insurgent activities.

He stated that the strikes significantly disrupted planned attacks and cut off critical supply chains used by the terrorist elements operating in the affected areas.

According to the statement, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, reiterated the Air Force’s commitment to sustained intelligence-driven operations in collaboration with other security agencies to eliminate terrorist threats nationwide.

The Air Chief further emphasised that ongoing aerial missions would continue to identify and destroy terrorist hideouts, logistics networks and operational bases wherever they are found across the country.

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The Nigerian Air Force maintained that the latest operation forms part of a broader counter-insurgency strategy aimed at restoring stability and weakening terrorist capacity in the North-East region.