Nigeria’s air force says it has killed 592 armed militia fighters in Borno State over the past eight months, surpassing its operational gains in 2024, amid an intensified aerial campaign against insurgents in the country’s northeast.
Air Force Chief Hasan Abubakar told Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum on Tuesday that the offensive has also destroyed more than 200 technical vehicles and 166 logistics hubs. He described the campaign as “faster, sharper and more surgical,” targeting high-value individuals, crippling supply lines, and dismantling insurgent cells.
The military is battling Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), whose attacks have killed thousands and displaced millions in the region. Militia gangs in Borno have killed at least 2,000 people since 2023, according to Nigeria Watch.
Abubakar said the operation involves coordinated day-and-night strikes in areas including Gonori, Rann, Dikwa, Damboa, Azir and Mallam Fatori. Assets include A-29 Super Tucanos for precision and night missions, Mi-171 helicopters for evacuation and logistics, and new surveillance platforms. A recently acquired Mi-35 gunship will bolster close air support.
The air force says it has flown 798 combat sorties and logged more than 1,500 operational hours under Operation Hadin Kai, the military’s counterinsurgency drive in the northeast.
Security analyst Confidence MacHarry of SBM Intelligence cautioned that it was difficult to independently verify the claims, noting that Boko Haram factions have maintained the ability to conduct successful attacks since ISWAP stepped up its offensive in late 2024.
In a separate operation this week, the military said it killed scores of armed gang members in Zamfara State after spotting more than 400 fighters preparing to attack a village.