The operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering which revealed the presence of high-profile terrorists at meeting points and logistics nodes located within the islands
By Moses Okorie
The Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) has neutralised more than 18 terrorists and destroyed key logistics facilities in precision air strikes at Tumbunma Baba in Borno.
The Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Capt. Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
Goni said the operation was carried out in the Tumbuns general area by air and ground forces in a coordinated assault on a known terrorist enclave.
According to him, the operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering which revealed the presence of high-profile terrorists at meeting points and logistics nodes located within the islands.
He said further surveillance and confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions conducted on Sept. 9 identified terrorist structures and logistics hubs in the area.
Goni said the intelligence-led operation culminated in precision kinetic strikes in the early hours of Friday.
He explained that air platforms engaged the identified targets with precision-guided munitions, while ground troops took positions along likely escape routes to prevent fleeing terrorists and engage them directly.
“The air strikes successfully destroyed the targeted structures and neutralised over 18 terrorist elements,” he said.
The military spokesman said the operation had significantly disrupted the terrorists’ logistics network and weakened the enclave’s capacity to function as a gathering and support base.
He added that post-strike assessment indicated an estimated 85 per cent success in achieving the intended operational objectives.
Goni attributed the success of the operation to effective intelligence gathering, timely ISR confirmation and the coordinated deployment of air and ground assets.
He assured that Operation Hadin Kai would sustain intelligence-driven operations aimed at denying terrorists the freedom to operate, regroup and establish logistics infrastructure.
He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with credible and timely information that could assist ongoing counter-terrorism operations.