By Nkechi Eze
In a significant operational success against insurgent forces in Nigeria’s North-East, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has destroyed an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) factory and several terrorist gun trucks in a precision airstrike conducted in Kwaltiri, located within the notorious Tumbuktu Triangle in Borno State.
The operation, executed on Tuesday, June 18, 2025, under the banner of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), was based on actionable intelligence and aerial surveillance that confirmed the presence of terrorist elements and their logistical assets in the area.
In a statement signed by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information at the NAF Headquarters, the air raid was carried out in precision attack passes that effectively neutralized the insurgents’ key assets. Dozens of fighters were eliminated in the process, marking a substantial setback to the group’s combat capacity.
“The successful destruction of the IED factory and gun trucks not only disrupted the terrorists’ command and logistics chains but also dealt a heavy blow to their morale and operational momentum,” the statement noted.
The Tumbuktu Triangle a long-standing insurgent stronghold spanning parts of Borno has been a hotbed of terrorist operations and staging grounds for attacks against civilians and security forces. By targeting the group’s bomb-making facilities and mobility assets, the air operation is seen as a strategic move to further weaken the insurgents’ operational depth.
This latest operation adds to a growing string of successful missions by NAF in recent months, underscoring its enhanced surveillance, precision strike capability, and unwavering resolve to eliminate terrorist threats across the region.
