After a series of airstrikes conducted by Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets in Borno and Yobe States, more than 160 members of Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, commonly known as Boko Haram, were killed, and their underground camps were demolished.
On November 2, 2023, the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI executed these airstrikes in two specific areas. The first strike occurred in Yobe State, near Geidam, along the Komadugu-Yobe River, around Bulabulin. According to sources, this area in Bulabulin along the Komadugu-Yobe River served as a major Boko Haram hub where they recently coordinated attacks on the local communities of Nguro Kayaya in Gaidam LGA.
These attacks resulted in the deaths of 16 individuals, and another IED attack occurred during the burial of these victims. The sources mentioned that an airborne electro-optical system was used by the Airforce to target this location, and the airstrikes were coordinated with ground troops, resulting in significant damage to the Boko Haram hideout. Over 100 fighters were killed, and two gun trucks, along with several structures, were destroyed.
The second set of airstrikes took place in Degbawa village on the Mandara Mountains in Gwoza LGA in Borno State. The strikes targeted a group of over 60 terrorists, including some of their Field Commanders who were reportedly planning attacks on military locations around Gwoza and its surroundings. Approximately 60 terrorists loyal to the notorious terrorist leader, Ali Ngulde, were eliminated, and the few survivors fled with various degrees of injuries.
It was further revealed that the troops of Operation Hadin Kai have been instructed to intensify intelligence-led coordinated actions involving both ground and Airforce units to eliminate the terrorists and put an end to terrorism in the North-East region as soon as possible, as reported by Makama, a Security Analyst and Counter-Insurgency Expert in the Lake Chad region.