NAF Airstrikes Destroy Terrorist Enclave, Kill Scores In Lake Chad Basin

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), under the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI, has destroyed a terrorist enclave and killed scores of terrorists during airstrikes conducted at Metele in the Northern Tumbuns area of the Lake Chad Basin.

NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed this in a statement, saying the operation was carried out in the early hours of June 10, 2026, following credible intelligence and extensive Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

According to him, the intelligence reports and ISR missions confirmed the presence of a senior terrorist commander, several terrorist hideouts and increased terrorist activities within the area, prompting the deployment of air assets to engage the targets.

Ejodame said the NAF acted swiftly on the intelligence, deploying aircraft that struck the identified targets with precision.

He explained that upon arrival at the location, the aircrew observed significant movement of terrorists around concealed structures, confirming the presence of hostile elements.

“Following positive target identification, the aircraft executed devastating strikes on the designated locations,” he stated.

The NAF spokesman added that a post-strike Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) confirmed the destruction of the terrorist enclave and the neutralisation of scores of terrorists operating in the area.

Reacting to the successful operation, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, commended the personnel involved and reaffirmed the Air Force’s commitment to sustaining offensive operations against terrorist groups across the country.

“We will continue to leverage our air power capabilities to locate, strike and destroy terrorist targets wherever they are found. The Nigerian Air Force remains resolute in denying terrorists freedom of action and ensuring they have no safe haven within our sovereign territory,” Aneke said.

The latest operation is part of ongoing military efforts to degrade terrorist capabilities and restore security in the Lake Chad Basin and the wider North-East region, which has remained a focal point of counterterrorism operations under Operation HADIN KAI.