NAF Destroys Terrorist Hideout in Sambisa, Days After ISWAP Kills Brigade Commander
In a decisive counterterrorism operation, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has recorded another major breakthrough, conducting a precision air interdiction mission that destroyed a notorious terrorist hideout at ARRA in the Sambisa general area on November 19, 2025.
A statement signed by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, NAF spokesperson, confirmed that the mission was carried out under the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff, following sustained intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) efforts.
According to the statement, the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI initiated the strike after tracking terrorist movements linked to an earlier ambush on ground troops at Kashomri. Persistent ISR coverage revealed suspicious activities and active terrorist structures at ARRA, prompting the intelligence-driven strike. NAF air assets successfully engaged designated objectives through coordinated, successive passes.
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The NAF reported that the strike achieved its intended effect with the complete destruction of all identified targets, significantly degrading the terrorists’ operational capabilities and disrupting their command and logistics networks. The mission, Ejodame noted, underscores the Air Force’s unwavering commitment to protecting the nation, supporting ground forces, and sustaining relentless pressure on terrorist elements across all theatres of operation.
This development comes in the wake of a tragic incident involving Brigadier Musa Uba, a commander who was killed by ISWAP terrorists after reportedly being tracked through intercepted communications.
PRNigeria earlier reported that Brigadier Uba had confirmed his safety to superior officers following a successful air-ground rescue operation. However, sources revealed that terrorists intercepted details of his location, enabling them to capture and summarily execute him after interrogation.
The initial operation began when ground troops, led by Brigadier Uba, unknowingly advanced through a booby-trapped route. Following heavy gunfire and a surge in terrorist numbers, the commander ordered a tactical withdrawal and sent a distress call for air support.
NAF aircraft swiftly diverted from other missions to provide close air support, dispersing the terrorists and rescuing the commander, his troops, and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF). Defence intelligence sources confirmed that the joint effort resulted in the killing of scores of terrorists, with the military recording minimal casualties.
The subsequent killing of Brigadier Uba, however, highlights the persistent operational risks and the critical need to secure military communications in the North-East theatre of operations.
By PRNigeria
