The Nigerian military says it carried out a series of precision air strikes targeting suspected armed fighters in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno State, killing several insurgents and destroying a concealed vehicle during an operation aimed at disrupting militant activities.
Military sources said the strikes were conducted in the early hours of June 7 as part of an armed reconnaissance and air interdiction mission over the Ali Sherifti area under Operation Hadin Kai, the military campaign against insurgent groups in the North East.
According to the sources, Air Force aircraft operating under the call sign “Guardian” detected a group of eight suspected fighters gathered beneath a tree before identifying another group of four positioned near a vehicle hidden under dense vegetation nearby.
Following what the military described as “positive identification”, the aircraft launched a precision strike on the first group, reportedly killing all eight individuals.
A subsequent battle damage assessment, the sources said, detected movement by four additional suspected fighters attempting to flee the area.
The military said a follow-up strike was immediately carried out against the second group and the concealed vehicle, destroying the vehicle and leaving no further observable movement in the target area.
Officials said the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to degrade the operational capabilities of armed groups, disrupt their mobility and deny them freedom of movement across the North East theatre.
The military added that sustained coordination between air and ground forces has continued to produce operational gains against insurgent groups, insisting that troops remain committed to maintaining pressure on militant strongholds while supporting broader efforts to restore peace and security in communities affected by the conflict.
