The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has carried out coordinated air strikes on terrorist hideouts across parts of the North East and North West, as part of sustained efforts to degrade the operational capacity of insurgents and bandits.

The strikes, conducted under ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-banditry operations, targeted identified enclaves, logistics bases and assembly points of terrorists operating in affected areas, military authorities confirmed on Tuesday.

In a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, the air operations followed credible intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) that revealed increased terrorist activities, including movements and planned attacks against civilian communities and security forces.

According to the statement, several terrorist camps were successfully destroyed, while a number of fighters were neutralised during the precision strikes.

“The Nigerian Air Force executed a series of well-coordinated air strikes against terrorist hideouts in the North East and North West.

The operations led to the destruction of key infrastructure and significantly degraded the terrorists’ ability to carry out attacks,” the statement said.

In the North East, NAF aircraft engaged locations linked to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) elements, disrupting their regrouping efforts and supply routes.

In the North West, air strikes were directed at bandit strongholds suspected to be behind recent attacks on communities, highways and markets, as well as mass abductions in parts of the region.

Military sources said the strikes forced fleeing terrorists to abandon weapons, motorcycles and other logistics, while ground troops were mobilised to exploit the success of the air operations.

The NAF reiterated its commitment to conducting operations with strict adherence to rules of engagement, stressing that measures were taken to minimise civilian casualties.

“The protection of innocent civilians remains paramount in all NAF operations. These missions were carefully planned and executed with precision,” the statement added.

The latest air strikes form part of a broader strategy by the Armed Forces of Nigeria to deny terrorists safe havens, support ground troops and restore peace to troubled communities.

The Federal Government has consistently reaffirmed its resolve to strengthen military operations and intelligence coordination to end insurgency and banditry across the country.