NAF Strikes Kangarwa Terrorist Enclave, Scores Eliminated
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has struck a major blow against terrorist elements in Kangarwa, Northern Tumbuns, eliminating scores of fighters and crippling the enclave’s operational capacity.
The operation, conducted on 1 April 2026 at approximately 12:05 pm, was part of the ongoing Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) under the strategic coordination of the Joint Task Force (North East). Air assets of the NAF, working closely with ground troops, executed a series of carefully planned air interdictions following extensive Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
According to the Nigerian Air Force, the strike targeted key structures, logistics hubs, and concealed positions within the terrorist settlement. “A number of terrorists were observed moving around structures and concealed positions within the settlement.
Following positive identification and target confirmation, NAF air assets conducted successive aggressive strike passes, delivering accurate fires on the identified locations,” a statement from the Air Force said.
The bombardment reportedly neutralised scores of fighters and left the Kangarwa enclave severely degraded, its operational utility significantly diminished. The strike also disrupted terrorist movements, creating favorable conditions for advancing ground troops to dominate the area and continue coordinated clearance operations.
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Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information at the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, confirmed that the operation dealt a “major setback” to the enclave’s command and support structures.
He emphasized that the integration of air power with ground manoeuvre elements highlights the growing synergy within Operation HADIN KAI and reflects the Nigerian military’s determination to deny terrorists any safe haven.
Commenting on the momentum of the ongoing campaign, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, reassured Nigerians that the Air Force would continue to deliver precision, intelligence-driven strikes in close coordination with surface forces until every terrorist enclave is dismantled and lasting security restored.
The Kangarwa mission is the latest in a string of successful air operations across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States, where the NAF has been instrumental in dismantling ISWAP and Boko Haram strongholds.
Residents in nearby communities welcomed the operation, expressing relief at the disruption of terrorist networks that have long threatened civilian lives and hindered the safe return of displaced persons. “For years, we have lived in fear of attacks from these criminals. The military’s action gives us hope that peace is returning,” said a local vigilante commander who asked not to be named.
While the exact number of neutralised fighters remains classified, the operation’s success is measured not just by enemy casualties but by the degradation of their operational hubs and logistical support. Experts note that sustained pressure on these enclaves is critical in denying insurgents the ability to regroup or launch attacks during sensitive periods, including Easter festivities.
By PRNigeria
