The Nigerian military has killed more than 18 terrorists and destroyed their logistics and support hubs in an air interdiction operation at Tumbunma Baba in the Tumbun general area of Borno State.
The operation was carried out by the Air Component of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), in coordination with ground troops of Sector 1 OPHK.
The Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday night.
Goni said the operation followed weeks of credible intelligence gathering which indicated the presence of high-profile terrorist elements at meeting and logistics nodes within the island area.
According to him, the intelligence was further validated through surveillance by the Theatre Command and confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations that commenced on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
He said the surveillance identified several terrorist structures and logistics hubs in the area, confirming that the enclave was being used as a gathering and support base by the terrorists.
The intelligence-led operation culminated in coordinated kinetic strikes carried out in the early hours of Friday, September 11.
“Following positive identification of the targets, the air platforms acquired and engaged the designated locations with precision munitions, with ground troops occupying all likely escape routes for further direct fire engagements,” Goni said.
He said the air strikes destroyed the targeted structures and neutralised more than 18 terrorist elements, significantly disrupting their logistics and degrading their capacity to use the enclave as a gathering and support base.
The military assessed the operation as achieving an estimated 85 per cent of its intended objectives.
Goni said the outcome demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations, timely ISR confirmation and the coordinated deployment of air and ground assets.
He added that OPHK, in collaboration with other security agencies and stakeholders, would continue to conduct intelligence-driven operations aimed at denying terrorists the freedom to operate, regroup, or establish logistics and support infrastructure across the North-East theatre.
The military spokesman also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible and timely information to security forces to support ongoing efforts to identify and disrupt terrorist activities in the region.
