Troops of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have killed more than 20 terrorists in coordinated air operations across Monguno and Biu Local Government Areas of Borno State.
The headquarters of Operation HADIN KAI said the strikes were carried out between the night of August 21 and the early hours of August 22, 2026, following credible intelligence and confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
According to a statement by the Acting Military Information Officer, Captain Mohammed Goni, the air operations targeted terrorist concentrations in different locations across the state and disrupted attempts by the groups to regroup and operate freely.
In one operation around the Aduwa axis of Monguno LGA, an armed reconnaissance platform detected and tracked suspected terrorists before identifying a larger concentration within a settlement.
Following the necessary operational authorisation, precision strikes were conducted on the target. Battle Damage Assessment indicated that about 16 terrorists were neutralised in two separate strikes.
The platform later detected another group attempting to regroup away from the initial target area. A further precision engagement was carried out, with subsequent assessment indicating that about 10 terrorists were successfully engaged.
In a separate operation around Buratai in Biu LGA, another Operation HADIN KAI air platform tracked a group of suspected terrorists gathered in the area.
The military said the platform maintained surveillance before conducting an authorised precision strike that successfully hit the target, killing about 10 more terrorists.
The military described the operations as evidence of the growing effectiveness of Operation HADIN KAI’s integrated ISR capabilities in detecting and disrupting terrorist movements before they can threaten troops and vulnerable communities.
It added that the sustained air campaign was expected to further restrict terrorist freedom of movement, disrupt their command and control structures, and place additional pressure on their logistics and fighting formations.
The military said the strikes form part of a broader campaign to degrade terrorist capabilities and create a safer environment for communities across the North-East.
It added that kinetic operations were being complemented by non-kinetic measures, including community engagement, strategic communication, counter-messaging, humanitarian coordination and efforts to encourage terrorists and their associates to renounce violence and surrender.
According to the military, the increasing number of surrenders recorded in recent weeks reflects the mounting pressure on terrorist networks and reinforces the availability of a credible pathway away from terrorism.
Operation HADIN KAI urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security forces.
