The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has successfully neutralized five prominent terrorist commanders and over 35 fighters in a precise airstrike carried out in Arina, Southern Tumbuns, Borno State. The operation, part of the ongoing Operation “Hadin Kai,” targeted a key terrorist stronghold on August 16, 2024.
In a statement released in Abuja, AVM Edward Gabkwet, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, confirmed the success of the mission. Among the high-profile commanders eliminated were Munzir Arika, Sani Dilla (also known as Dan Hausawan Jubillaram), Ameer Modu, Dan Fulani Fari Fari, and Bakoura Arina Chiki.
The airstrike was a strategic effort to weaken the remaining terrorist elements in the Northeast while ensuring the safety of civilians and Nigerian troops. Gabkwet detailed that intelligence had tracked the movement of terrorists into the area, leading to confirmatory Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions on August 12 and 15. These missions identified numerous terrorists and their hidden structures, which were subsequently destroyed in the coordinated airstrikes.
The operation not only resulted in the elimination of key terrorist figures but also led to the destruction of equipment, vehicles, water vessels, and a suspected medical dispensary. Gabkwet emphasized that this successful strike has significantly degraded the operational capacity of the remaining terrorist elements in the region.
“The Nigerian Air Force remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the efforts of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies in maintaining peace and security in the region,” Gabkwet concluded.
