TRUMP: Tinubu moves against terrorists, clears Borno camps with airstrikes

In an effort to avert United States annexation of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has doubled efforts to contain insurgency in the country with heavier bombardment of the terrorist cells in Northern Nigeria.

On Sunday, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets have successfully neutralised several Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the Mallam Fatori and Shuwaram areas of Borno State with heavy bombardment of air strikes.

NAF made the disclosure in a statement it made available to defence correspondents in Abuja on Monday by the spokesperson of the Service, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.

The statement explained that the strikes also destroyed bandit enclaves in Kwara and Katsina States.

It stated that the strikes, guided by real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) feeds, dealt a heavy blow to ISWAP terrorists entrenched in the northern Tumbuns.

According to it, “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 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 in the area.”

It further added that while airstrikes against ISWAP were ongoing in the North East, NAF aircraft carried out precision air interdiction missions over Garin Dandi and Chigogo in Kwara State, striking bandit camps with “devastating accuracy.”

The statement further disclosed that the attacks, based on credible intelligence, caused panic and inflicted heavy losses among the criminals.

It added that in a similar operation, air assets under Operation FANSAN YAMMA struck Zango Hill, which harboured a terrorist kingpin and his fighters, in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, destroyed their logistics hubs, and neutralised several of the terrorists — an operation described by the Service as one of the most decisive strikes against bandits in the North West in recent times.

It pointed out that, in a bid to demonstrate sustained reach and precision, the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, under Sector 1, conducted an armed reconnaissance mission across the North West corridor, covering key settlements in Zamfara, Kebbi, and Kaduna States, including Kakihum, Dankolo, Kotonkoro, and Kuyello — locations known to serve as routes and hideouts for armed groups along the Birnin Gwari–Funtua axis.

According to it, “During the mission, coordination with Forward Operating Bases at Dankolo and Kotonkoro 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.”

The Service attributed the success of the precision operations across Borno, Kwara, Katsina, and the entire North West to the renewed tempo following the directives of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke.

It added that each mission reaffirmed NAF’s resolve to project smarter, intelligence-driven airpower to deliver purposeful lethality against insurgents and criminals while protecting the lives and property of citizens, thereby enhancing national security.