The Nigerian Air Force has reportedly destroyed a suspected terrorist camp in Borno State, killing about 12 insurgents in a precision airstrike conducted under Operation Hadin Kai.
The operation, carried out on August 4, targeted a suspected terrorist enclave in Chiralia, a densely forested area believed to have been used by insurgents as a hideout.
A security source, who disclosed the development, said the operation followed intelligence reports indicating renewed terrorist activities in the area.
According to the source, Chiralia was selected as a target because of its difficult terrain and thick vegetation, which provide natural cover for insurgents and make ground operations more difficult.
The source said an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, ISR, aircraft was deployed at about 11:40 a.m. to conduct an armed reconnaissance mission over the area.
During the surveillance operation, the aircraft reportedly detected suspected terrorists moving within the location.
It also identified several concealed structures believed to have been used by the insurgents as operational shelters, logistics bases and staging points for attacks.
After the targets were confirmed, attack aircraft were deployed to strike the identified locations.
“After confirming the targets, attack aircraft carried out precision strikes on the identified locations, recording direct hits on the concealed structures,” the report stated.
A post-strike Battle Damage Assessment, BDA, reportedly confirmed the destruction of the suspected terrorist camp and its supporting infrastructure.
About 12 suspected insurgents were also said to have been neutralised in the operation.
The security source further said secondary explosions and fires were observed after the airstrike, suggesting that weapons, equipment and other supplies stored inside the camp were also destroyed.
The operation is seen as another effort by the military to disrupt terrorist activities in the North-East, particularly in areas where insurgents continue to use difficult terrain and remote settlements to establish temporary bases.
Operation Hadin Kai is the Nigerian military’s major counter-insurgency operation in the North-East. It involves the Army, Air Force and other security agencies in efforts to defeat Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, fighters operating mainly in Borno, Yobe and parts of Adamawa states.
Borno has remained at the centre of Nigeria’s more than 15-year battle against terrorism and insurgency.
Although military operations have weakened the capabilities of several insurgent groups, fighters have continued to carry out attacks in some remote areas, particularly around the Lake Chad Basin and forested communities.
The use of air power has become an important part of the military’s strategy because many insurgent camps are located in difficult-to-reach areas.
Air surveillance allows security forces to identify suspected camps and movements before attack aircraft are deployed. The approach also gives commanders information that can help them assess the results of an operation after a strike.
The latest operation in Chiralia followed this pattern, with intelligence gathering and aerial surveillance reportedly used to identify the suspected enclave before the airstrike was carried out.
Military sources described the operation as intelligence-driven and said it showed the growing coordination between surveillance aircraft and precision strike capabilities under Operation Hadin Kai.
The sources said the destruction of the camp would reduce the ability of the suspected terrorist cell to operate in the area.
They added that taking away a safe haven could make it more difficult for the insurgents to regroup, plan attacks and store weapons and other supplies.
The destruction of logistics facilities is particularly important in counter-insurgency operations because terrorist groups depend on hidden locations to store food, weapons, ammunition and other materials needed to sustain their activities.
Military authorities have in recent months continued to rely on airstrikes, ground operations and intelligence gathering to target terrorist positions across the North-East.
The military has also intensified operations aimed at preventing insurgents from establishing new bases and expanding their areas of influence.
The latest strike demonstrates the importance of accurate intelligence in such operations, especially in forested areas where suspected terrorists can hide among thick vegetation.
However, details of the operation, including the identity of the suspected insurgents killed and the exact nature of the weapons or equipment destroyed, were not immediately available.
There was also no independent confirmation of the reported casualty figure as of the time of the report.
The Nigerian military has in the past announced successful airstrikes against terrorist camps in Borno and neighbouring states, while stressing that its operations are aimed at dismantling insurgent networks and protecting civilians.
The security situation in Borno remains a major concern despite sustained military pressure on terrorist groups.
Insurgency in the state began to escalate more than a decade ago after Boko Haram expanded its attacks against civilians, security personnel and government institutions. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced millions of people from their communities.
The emergence of ISWAP has further complicated the security situation, with the group carrying out attacks on military positions and other targets in the North-East.
The military has responded with ground offensives, airstrikes and intelligence-led operations, while also supporting efforts to restore normal life in communities affected by the conflict.
The latest airstrike in Chiralia is therefore expected to contribute to ongoing efforts to deny terrorist groups safe locations from which they can operate.
By destroying the suspected enclave and its support infrastructure, military sources said the operation could disrupt the group’s ability to plan attacks, move supplies and recruit or regroup fighters in the area.
Security officials are expected to continue surveillance and follow-up operations around the location to determine whether any surviving insurgents have moved to nearby areas.
The military is also expected to maintain pressure on terrorist groups across Borno and other parts of the North-East as part of efforts to prevent them from rebuilding their networks.
For residents of communities around the affected areas, however, the success of such operations will ultimately be measured by improved security and the ability to return safely to their homes and farms.
The Nigerian Air Force has continued to stress the importance of accurate intelligence and coordination with ground forces in its counter-insurgency operations.
The latest strike in Chiralia, if the reported assessment is sustained, represents another setback for the suspected terrorist cell and another attempt by the military to deny insurgents the safe havens they need to sustain their operations.