Nigerian Air Force (NAF) jets operating under the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) on Tuesday conducted devastating airstrikes against terrorist elements in their strongholds and hideouts in Bukar Meram in the Southern Tumbuns and Chikide in the Mandara Mountains, North-East Nigeria, decimating scores of the terror fighters.
NAF Spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said in a statement that the “precision airstrikes” destroyed terrorist logistics hubs, structures and assembly areas concealed within the enclaves, while also neutralising several terrorists and disrupting planned attacks.
The full statement by Air Commodore Ejodame reads: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), through the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, intensified ongoing air offensives against terrorist elements in the North-East with precision air strikes conducted on 19 May 2026 at Bukar Meram in the Southern Tumbuns and Chikide in the Mandara Mountains.
“Acting on credible intelligence and confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, NAF air assets destroyed terrorist logistics hubs, structures and assembly areas concealed within the enclaves, while also neutralising several terrorists and disrupting planned attacks.
“Speaking on the operations, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, reaffirmed the NAF’s commitment to sustaining coordinated joint operations with sister Services and allied partners to eliminate terrorism and restore peace across the country.
“The CAS stressed that intelligence-driven air operations would continue to identify and destroy terrorist hideouts, logistics networks and operational bases wherever they exist.”
