Aircraft of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), operating under the joint task force of Operation Hadin Kai, have carried out successful airstrikes on terrorist enclaves in Abbajiri, located within the notorious Timbuktu Triangle of the Lake Chad region. The targeted bombardment significantly weakened enemy positions and created favourable conditions for ground troops to advance into the area.
The Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed the development in an official statement. According to him, the operation was executed on January 8, 2026, following extensive intelligence gathering and careful operational planning.
Ejodame explained that the mission was launched after credible, multi-layered intelligence revealed the sustained presence of terrorists, including operational structures and hidden logistics hubs within the area. Based on this intelligence, NAF air assets were deployed to conduct integrated surveillance missions alongside precision strikes, ensuring accurate engagement of designated targets.
He noted that the objective of the air operation was to significantly degrade terrorist fighting capacity, dismantle their support infrastructure, and deny them safe havens, while preparing the operational environment for an effective ground offensive. The strikes, he added, were conducted in strict compliance with established rules of engagement, with deliberate measures taken to protect civilian lives and property.
Reacting to the success of the mission, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, said the operation underscores the Nigerian Air Force’s determination to assert air dominance in support of joint military efforts. He stressed that the service remains committed to delivering timely, accurate, and decisive airpower to back ground forces in the fight against terrorism.
“This mission highlights our unwavering resolve to deny terrorists freedom of movement, operational space, and logistical support wherever they attempt to regroup or hide,” Air Marshal Aneke stated. He disclosed that terrorist structures identified during the mission were effectively destroyed, while subsequent air engagements neutralised armed fighters who attempted to converge on the location after the initial strikes.
Following the aerial assault, ground troops advanced into Abbajiri and confirmed the impact of the airstrikes, validating the overall success of the joint air and land operation. The coordinated effort, according to the CAS, demonstrates the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations and close inter-service collaboration.
Air Marshal Aneke further reaffirmed that the Nigerian Air Force would continue to sustain pressure on terrorist elements through relentless, intelligence-led air operations. He emphasised that every mission is meticulously planned to maximise impact on hostile forces while minimising risks to civilians.
The operation, he concluded, reflects the Nigerian Air Force’s aggressive posture, precision employment of airpower, and enduring commitment to joint operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks that threaten national security, lives, and property across the country.
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