By Nkechi Eze
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has thwarted a planned terrorist assault on troops stationed in Rann, Borno State, killing several insurgents in coordinated air operations under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK).
The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, 8 August 2025, following a swift response by the Air Component to credible intelligence on enemy movement.
In an official statement, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the Air Component of OPHK acted immediately after receiving actionable intelligence, linking up with ground forces to track and target the terrorists.
“Acting on credible intelligence, the OPHK Air Component established contact with ground forces, identified clusters of fleeing insurgents, and engaged them with precision munitions, neutralising several in the process,” Ejodame stated.
He noted that the mission involved both Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations and Air Interdiction (AI) strikes, ensuring accurate targeting and minimising risks to friendly forces. The air strikes, he said, restored calm to Rann and prevented further escalation of the threat.
The NAF spokesperson emphasised that the swift and decisive action once again demonstrated the Air Force’s unwavering commitment to providing close air support to troops on the ground, safeguarding military positions, and rapidly neutralising insurgent threats.
Rann, located near Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, has been a repeated target of insurgent attacks in recent years. Military operations in the area form part of ongoing counter-terrorism efforts aimed at degrading the operational capacity of terrorist groups in the North-East.
