The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), through the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), intensified ongoing air offensives against terrorist elements in the North-East with precision airstrikes conducted on 19 May 2026 at Bukar Meram in the Southern Tumbuns and Chikide in the Mandara Mountains.

Following credible intelligence and confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, NAF air assets destroyed terrorist logistics hubs, structures and assembly areas concealed within the enclaves, while also neutralising several terrorists and disrupting planned attacks.

NAF’s spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame in a statement quoted the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, as reaffirming the the Service’s commitment to sustaining coordinated joint operations with sister Services and allied partners to eliminate terrorism and restore peace across the country.

Aneke stressed that intelligence-driven air operations would continue to identify and destroy terrorist hideouts, logistics networks and operational bases wherever they exist.

On Tuesday, the Defence Headquartres (DHQ) confirmed that the Nigeria-US joint operations which began on May 17, 2026 have eliminated 175 Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters in the North East.

The operations resulted in the elimination of several senior ISIS leaders, including Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, one of the most significant ISIS operatives in the world, who played a central role in ISIS external operations, coordinating terrorist financing, recruitment, logistics, and attack planning targeting Nigerians and innocent civilians around the world.

Other terrorist figures eliminated include Abd-al Wahhab, ISWAP senior leader responsible for coordinating attacks and distributing propaganda; Abu Musa al-Mangawi, ISWAP senior member; and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, ISWAP senior media production team manager and close confidant to al-Minuki.