The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Friday conducted coordinated air operations that disrupted an attempted attack by insurgents on military personnel stationed in Rann, Kala-Balge Local Government Area of Borno State.

The operation was carried out under the framework of Operation Hadin Kai, which oversees counterterrorism and counterinsurgency missions in the Northeast. According to a statement released by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the mission was launched in the early hours of August 8 following actionable intelligence.

“Acting on credible intelligence, the OPHK Air Component established contact with ground forces, identified clusters of fleeing insurgents, and engaged them with precision munitions, neutralising several in the process,” the statement said.

The air operation involved a combination of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and air interdiction missions. These enabled the NAF to detect movements of armed insurgents attempting to mount an assault on military positions.

“The swift and decisive action restored calm to the area,” Ejodame said, noting that the engagement reaffirmed the Air Force’s role in providing close air support and neutralising threats in real time.

Details on the specific number of insurgents affected were not provided. However, the Air Force indicated that the response had successfully disrupted the planned attack and prevented potential casualties among troops deployed in the area.

Rann, which lies close to Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, has remained a target of intermittent attacks by non-state armed groups despite ongoing joint operations by security forces. The Nigerian military has continued air and ground offensives across Borno and neighbouring states as part of efforts to dismantle remaining insurgent strongholds.