The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced that more than 15 terrorists were killed in an airstrike carried out on September 3, 2025, in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno State. The operation, executed by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, targeted an enclave west of Zuwa identified as a hideout for fighters and commanders linked to recent attacks around Bitta, in Gwoza Local Government Area.
According to a statement by the NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the mission was launched following credible intelligence and confirmatory surveillance that tracked terrorist movement in the area. The air interdiction destroyed several structures used by the insurgents while neutralising fighters who had been coordinating recent hostilities.
Reports from Daily Post revealed that the strike was conducted around 11:50 a.m. after Grey Raptor surveillance platforms observed terrorist activity along a river line stretching from Bitta toward Zuwa. This provided the intelligence needed for a precise and devastating strike.
Ejodame described the operation as further proof of the Air Force’s precision, professionalism, and resolve in combating terrorism. He added that every successful strike strengthens Nigeria’s chances of achieving lasting peace and stability in the region.
The Sambisa Forest has long served as a stronghold for Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters since the insurgency erupted in 2009. Despite years of military campaigns, the area remains a recurring battlefield as insurgents attempt to regroup. The latest strike underscores the military’s ongoing commitment to counterterrorism efforts in the Northeast, where insurgency and banditry continue to displace millions and disrupt livelihoods.
