Air Strikes Kill 36 Terrorists as Operation Hadin Kai Hits Borno Hideouts

The air component of Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, has killed about 36 suspected terrorists in a series of intelligence-led precision strikes across Borno State.

The coordinated air operations were conducted 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.

A statement issued by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Captain Mohammed Goni, said the strikes targeted terrorist concentrations in different locations across the state.

According to the statement, the operations successfully degraded the identified targets and disrupted attempts by terrorist elements to regroup, assemble and operate freely within the theatre.

26 terrorists neutralised in Monguno

In one of the operations, an armed reconnaissance platform detected and tracked suspected terrorists around the Aduwa axis in Monguno Local Government Area.

The platform subsequently identified a larger concentration of the terrorists within a settlement.

Following operational procedures and the requisite authorisation, a precision strike was conducted against the identified target.

Battle Damage Assessment indicated significant effects, with about 16 terrorists neutralised in two precision strikes.

The platform continued surveillance of the area and later detected another group attempting to regroup away from the initial target location.

A further precision engagement was conducted, with subsequent assessment indicating that about 10 terrorists in the group were also successfully engaged.

Another 10 hit in Biu

In a separate operation around Buratai in Biu Local Government Area, another Operation HADIN KAI air platform tracked a group of suspected terrorists gathered at a location in the area.

Following sustained surveillance and the required authorisation, the platform conducted a precision strike on the identified target.

The military said the strike successfully impacted the target and neutralised about 10 additional terrorists.

The latest operations bring the number of suspected terrorists reported by the military as neutralised in the three engagements to approximately 36.

Military intensifies pressure on terrorist networks

The Joint Task Force said the strikes demonstrate the growing effectiveness of its integrated ISR capabilities in detecting and disrupting terrorist movements before they can develop into threats against troops and vulnerable communities.

It warned that attempts by terrorist elements to conceal their movements, disperse into smaller groups or operate from remote locations would not necessarily guarantee freedom from detection.

According to the military, the sustained air campaign is expected to further restrict terrorist freedom of action, disrupt command and control structures and place additional pressure on their logistics and fighting formations.

The operations form part of the broader Operation HADIN KAI campaign to degrade terrorist capabilities and create a safer environment for communities across the North-East.

Non-kinetic operations continue

The military said kinetic operations were being complemented by non-kinetic initiatives, including community engagement, strategic communication, counter-messaging, humanitarian coordination and efforts encouraging terrorists and their associates to abandon violence and surrender.

It noted that the increasing number of surrenders recorded in recent weeks reflected the mounting pressure on terrorist networks and reinforced the message that there was 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.

The Joint Task Force said community cooperation remained critical to early threat detection, protection of lives and property and consolidation of gains in the counter-terrorism campaign.

It added that coordinated operations would continue against terrorist networks while efforts are sustained to restore peace, security and normal socio-economic activities across the North-East.