By Nkechi Eze
In a sweeping escalation of its counterinsurgency efforts, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified around-the-clock air operations across various theatres of internal security, delivering decisive blows to terrorists, insurgents, and criminal elements threatening national stability.
According to an official signed statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the renewed offensive follows strategic adjustments and stronger coordination between air and ground forces, particularly under Operation HADIN KAI and other joint task force missions across the Northeast, Northwest, North Central, Southeast, and South South.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, has directed Air Component Commanders to maintain unbroken air dominance in all operational zones. “Terror will find no sanctuary, day or night,” he declared. “Our eyes are everywhere, and our resolve is unshaken. Wherever they hide, we will find them. And when we do, we will strike with precision.”
Air Marshal Abubakar pointed to the failed assault on New Marte in the early hours of 24 May 2025 as proof of the NAF’s enhanced capabilities. A team of ISWAP fighters attempted to infiltrate the area using motorcycles and a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), but were swiftly intercepted and neutralised by NAF aircraft operating with real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) support.
“The night offers no more cover for enemies of the state,” he said. “Our platforms now operate with upgraded night vision systems, enabling precision strikes around the clock.”
In follow-up strikes, over 50 insurgents were eliminated as they tried to regroup, effectively breaking their momentum. Intercepted communications and drone footage confirmed the devastating impact of the air raids. “We have not only denied them freedom of movement, we have shattered their illusion of nighttime safety,” the CAS affirmed.
Air Marshal Abubakar revealed that the sustained bombardments have caused widespread panic among ISWAP fighters, with many fleeing their hideouts due to what locals have described as “sudden death from above.”
Reassuring Nigerians of the Air Force’s commitment to national security, the CAS stated: “To every Nigerian, rest assured. Your Air Force is vigilant. We are watching, we are flying, and we are striking. From Kalabalge to Rann, from Damboa to New Marte, we own the skies. And as long as we do, terror will find no rest, day or night.”
