By Fatima Saka
ABUJA — Air platforms of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, have neutralised scores of terrorists in a series of intelligence-led precision airstrikes across Borno State.
The coordinated strikes, carried out between the night of August 21 and the early hours of August 22, targeted terrorist concentrations in Monguno and Biu Local Government Areas following credible intelligence and confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions.
In one of the operations, an armed reconnaissance platform detected and tracked suspected terrorists around the Aduwa axis in Monguno LGA before identifying a larger concentration within a settlement.
Following operational procedures and authorisation, the air platform conducted two precision strikes, neutralising about 16 terrorists, according to a subsequent Battle Damage Assessment.
The platform continued surveillance and later detected another group of about 10 terrorists attempting to regroup away from the initial target location. A further precision engagement was carried out against the group.
In a separate operation around Buratai in Biu LGA, another Operation HADIN KAI air platform tracked a group of suspected terrorists gathered in the area and conducted a precision strike after sustained surveillance and authorisation.
The strike reportedly took out about 10 terrorists.
The Joint Task Force said the operations demonstrated the growing effectiveness of its integrated ISR capabilities in detecting and disrupting terrorist movements before they develop into threats against troops and vulnerable communities.
It said the sustained kinetic pressure on terrorist networks was expected to further weaken their freedom of action, disrupt command and control structures, and place additional pressure on their logistics and fighting formations.
The military added that the air operations complement non-kinetic measures, including community engagement, strategic communication, counter-messaging, humanitarian coordination and efforts to encourage terrorists and their associates to abandon violence and surrender.
“The increasing number of surrenders recorded in recent weeks further reflects the growing pressure on terrorist networks and reinforces the message that there remains a credible pathway away from terrorism,” the task force said.
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Operation HADIN KAI urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security forces, describing community cooperation as vital to early threat detection and the protection of lives and property.
The statement was signed by Capt. Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force, North East, Operation HADIN KAI, Maiduguri.
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