Nigerian Air Foce (NAF) jets operating under the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI (AC OPHK) have killed scores of terrorists and destroyed guntruck in Kukawa, Borno State.
The airstrikes, conducted in conjunction with ground troops of Nigerian Army, was in response to a distress call from the troops in Kukawa “who were under intense attack by terrorists on motorcycles.”
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, said in a statement that with rapid deployment of air support, the terrorists were engaged “at various intervals. The strike neutralized many terrorists, and our ground troops recovered over 20 abandoned motorcycles.”
The full statement by Air Commodore Akinboyewa reads: “The Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI (AC OPHK), on 25 November 2024, dealt a devastating blow to terrorists in Kukawa, Borno State through 2 separate but related missions. In the first, NAF fighter jets destroyed a gun truck and neutralized several fighters, while the second was to provide close air support to repel an attack on our ground troops.
“The first operation began with credible intelligence on the location of a terrorists’ gun truck, approximately 5 kilometers west of Kukawa. NAF fighter jets swiftly responded, acquiring and attacking the target with precision, destroying the gun truck and crippling the terrorists’ capacity.
“In the second operation, the AC OPHK responded to a distress call from ground troops in Kukawa, who were under intense attack by terrorists on motorcycles. The NAF air assets rapidly responded, engaging the terrorists at various intervals.
“The strike neutralized many terrorists, and our ground troops recovered over 20 abandoned motorcycles. Following the strike, ground troops are capitalizing on the momentum, pursuing wounded and fleeing terrorists.
“The NAF reaffirms its commitment to the collective effort to restore peace and security in the country, and will continue to provide airpower in support of our ground forces and other security agencies.”