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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified its air operations, conducting around-the-clock missions aimed at dismantling terrorist strongholds and criminal hideouts throughout the country.
This renewed offensive marks a strategic escalation in the fight against insecurity, reflecting a determined and coordinated approach to restoring peace and stability across Nigeria’s most volatile regions.
Spanning several critical areas—including the North-East, North-West, North Central, South-East, and South-South zones—these operations form an integral part of a broader security overhaul initiated by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar.
The expanded aerial campaign demonstrates the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to delivering decisive, sustained pressure on armed groups that threaten national peace and security.
In an official statement released on Wednesday, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the NAF spokesperson, emphasized that Air Component Commanders have been instructed to maintain continuous air dominance over these troubled regions. This directive ensures that terrorist and criminal elements face relentless aerial surveillance and attack, limiting their movement and operational capabilities.
Ejodame highlighted the enhanced cooperation between air and ground forces as a key factor in the renewed operational effectiveness.
“This bold reaffirmation of our commitment to national security has seen us ramp up 24/7 air operations across multiple theatres of internal security,” he said.
“Our efforts deliver crippling blows to terrorists, insurgents, and criminal networks. The operational intensity we now maintain follows strategic recalibrations and a tighter synergy between our air components and ground task forces, particularly under Operation Hadin Kai and other joint operations nationwide.”
Quoting Air Marshal Abubakar, Ejodame underscored the Air Force’s unwavering resolve: “Terror will find no sanctuary, day or night. 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.”
The increased operational tempo was exemplified by the recent thwarted terrorist attack on New Marte in Borno State on May 24, 2025. According to Ejodame, a group of fighters affiliated with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attempted a coordinated assault involving motorcycles and a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED). Thanks to real-time intelligence and advanced surveillance technology, NAF aircraft intercepted the attackers before they could inflict harm, neutralizing the threat swiftly and decisively.
“The night offers no more cover for enemies of the state,” Ejodame noted. “Our platforms now operate with enhanced night vision capabilities, allowing precision strikes regardless of the hour. This technological advancement has fundamentally shifted the balance in our favour.”
Following the initial interception, follow-up strikes targeted insurgents attempting to regroup, resulting in over 50 militants killed. These actions significantly degraded the terrorists’ offensive capabilities and morale, further stabilizing the affected areas.
Air Marshal Abubakar reaffirmed the Air Force’s dedication to safeguarding Nigerian citizens amid ongoing challenges. “To every Nigerian, rest assured that 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. As long as we maintain this aerial dominance, terror will find no rest, day or night,” he assured.
Through this intensified aerial campaign, the Nigerian Air Force continues to play a pivotal role in Nigeria’s broader security architecture, combining advanced technology, intelligence-driven operations, and seamless coordination with ground forces to confront and dismantle terrorist threats decisively.