Borno airstrikes
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) reported killing more than 40 suspected terrorists during coordinated air operations in Borno State on January 15 and 16, 2026, disrupting preparations for attacks on communities in the troubled North-East.
The Borno airstrikes, conducted in Azir and Musarram, formed part of Operation Hadin Kai, the military campaign against insurgent groups operating across the region.
According to the Air Force, the operations followed intelligence indicating that armed fighters were gathering in strategic locations, including waterways used to move personnel and supplies towards vulnerable communities.
The Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed the development in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
He explained that the strikes were carried out in coordination with ground troops and were intended to disrupt imminent threats while preventing the insurgents from regrouping.
The military’s reported casualty figures were not independently verified.
Borno Airstrikes Target Terrorists Gathering in Canoes
Providing details of the operation, Ejodame said intelligence received on January 15 indicated that suspected terrorists were assembling at Musarram, within the Tumbuns area of Borno State.
The fighters were reportedly preparing to launch attacks along the Baga and Fish Dam axis, an area that has experienced repeated security threats linked to insurgent activities.
Military aircraft deployed to the location identified approximately 10 canoes and more than 40 suspected terrorists.
According to the Air Force, the aircraft carried out successive attacks against the gathering, scattering the fighters and preventing them from proceeding with their suspected operation.
Some militants reportedly attempted to escape into nearby vegetation, while others moved towards another assembly point.
The Air Force said those movements were monitored and further engagements conducted against the regrouping fighters.
Military authorities subsequently reported that the operation disrupted the concentration of fighters and prevented the planned attacks.
The Borno airstrikes highlighted the role of aerial surveillance in identifying armed groups before they could move towards populated areas.
However, the Air Force did not provide an independently verified breakdown of casualties at each location or disclose the identities of the individuals killed.
Air Force Provides Support to Ground Troops in Azir
In another engagement on January 16, Nigerian Air Force aircraft were deployed to Azir after receiving information that ground troops were confronting suspected insurgents.
The military said the fighters had begun withdrawing from their positions when aircraft arrived to support troops involved in the confrontation.
During aerial reconnaissance, crews reportedly identified armed elements attempting to regroup beneath trees near the operational area.
The aircraft subsequently engaged the targets in coordinated attacks.
Ejodame said the action weakened the insurgents’ ability to reorganise and mount another offensive against soldiers operating in the area.
The Air Force further stated that assessments following the engagement showed that the immediate threat had been addressed.
Reports received from ground troops, local authorities and community sources were also said to have indicated a return of relative calm.
The Borno airstrikes therefore involved two related military objectives: providing immediate assistance to personnel under threat and disrupting preparations for attacks elsewhere in the operational theatre.
Although the military described both operations as successful, the statement did not provide a detailed accounting of civilian movements or longer-term security conditions following the strikes.
Air Chief Commends Intelligence-Led Operations
Reacting to the development, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, reaffirmed the Air Force’s commitment to supporting troops engaged in counterterrorism operations.
Aneke emphasised the importance of intelligence gathering, timely deployment of aircraft and coordination between air and ground forces.
He maintained that sustained pressure on armed groups was necessary to prevent them from moving freely, establishing new positions or carrying out attacks against communities.
The Air Chief also pledged continued support for military formations operating in areas affected by insurgency.
For the Nigerian military, the Borno airstrikes demonstrated how information gathered before an attack could be used to interrupt preparations and limit an armed group’s operational capacity.
Military operations of this nature depend not only on identifying suspected fighters but also on maintaining coordination between intelligence units, aircraft and ground formations.
Accurate assessments of the results are equally important in determining whether an operation has achieved its objectives and whether additional security measures are required.
https://ogelenews.ng/borno-airstrikes-kill-over-40-terrorists-foil-plann…
Why Baga and Surrounding Communities Remain Vulnerable
The Lake Chad region has remained a major area of concern in Nigeria’s struggle against Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Both groups have carried out attacks against communities and military formations in parts of Borno State over the years.
The difficult terrain, which includes waterways, islands, agricultural settlements and extensive vegetation, has complicated efforts to maintain consistent security coverage.
In some locations, access to communities is affected by seasonal conditions and the limited availability of reliable transport routes.
These geographical difficulties have also created challenges for civilians seeking to continue farming, fishing, trading and other economic activities.
The presence of armed groups has disrupted livelihoods, displaced families and contributed to prolonged insecurity.
The Borno airstrikes were therefore significant not merely because of the number of casualties reported by the military, but because the suspected attackers were allegedly preparing operations against areas already exposed to serious security threats.
Preventing such attacks remains essential to protecting civilians, although the long-term effectiveness of individual military operations cannot be established from casualty figures alone.
Fresh Borno Attacks Show Continuing Security Challenges
Despite the January military operations, Borno State continued to experience insurgent attacks during 2026.
In a separate incident on October 7, troops of the 101 Special Forces Battalion repelled an assault by ISWAP fighters on a military position in Kukawa Local Government Area.
According to Operation Hadin Kai, the attackers approached the position from four directions before encountering resistance from soldiers supported by air assets.
The military reported that more than 25 insurgents were killed during the encounter, while 14 bodies and several weapons were recovered.
It also acknowledged that some Nigerian soldiers died during the fighting.
The October confrontation was separate from the January Borno airstrikes, and its reported casualties should not be combined with those from the earlier operations.
Together, the incidents illustrate the continuing contest between security forces and insurgent groups in the North-East.
They also demonstrate why battlefield successes, while important, do not necessarily mean that the wider threat to communities has been eliminated.
Beyond Borno Airstrikes: Securing Communities and Livelihoods
Military action remains a central part of Nigeria’s response to insurgency, but lasting stability requires more than the disruption of armed groups.
For residents of affected communities, meaningful security includes the ability to travel, attend school, cultivate farmland and conduct business without constant fear of attack or abduction.
Efforts to restore normal life must therefore address both immediate threats and the conditions that leave communities vulnerable.
The effectiveness of the Borno airstrikes should ultimately be assessed alongside sustained territorial security, civilian protection and the ability of displaced residents to rebuild their livelihoods.
Accurate and transparent reporting of military operations is also essential.
While official statements provide important information about security developments, independent verification of casualties and other operational claims helps establish a clearer picture of events.
For the Nigerian Air Force, the January strikes represented an effort to prevent suspected terrorists from carrying out attacks before they reached their intended targets.
The wider challenge remains ensuring that such operations contribute to lasting improvements in security.
As counterterrorism operations continue across Borno State, the safety of communities, the protection of military personnel and the restoration of ordinary economic and social life will remain critical measures of progress.
https://www.channelstv.com/2026/01/19/airstrikes-kill-over-40-terrorists-in-borno-naf
