Troops kill 6 terrorists, arrest 11 suspected collaborators in Borno

Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised six terrorists, arrested 11 suspected collaborators and received the surrender of a Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS) member in Borno.

Similarly, troops of Sector 2, Operation Fansan Yamma, have rescued three kidnapped victims in Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The victims were identified as Aisha Aminu, 46; Sumayya Aminu, 27; and Nana Abbas, 15.

The victims were rescued on Saturday, October 24, 2026, during an operation in the area, with two of them rescued at Makuku Village and the third at Dankolo village.

The Nigerian Air Force recorded more than 6,100 flying hours and 2,900 sorties, consuming nearly 10 million litres of aviation fuel in support of national security operations between November 2025 and September 2026.

The figures were contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, ahead of the first anniversary of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, on October 30.

In an operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Abuja, it was disposed that the operations, conducted by troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), targeted terrorist fighters and suspected support networks in Kaga and Gwoza Local Government Areas of Borno state.

It said troops of 29 Task Force Brigade Garrison, supported by Hybrid Force personnel, ambushed suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)/JAS terrorists along the Targejeri axis of Kaga at about 12:37 a.m. on Oct. 25.

According to the report, six terrorists were neutralised during the encounter, while troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, three magazines and 169 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

“Other recovered items included two Android phones, three button phones and charms.

“In a related development, troops arrested six additional suspected terrorist collaborators during a follow-up raid in Benisheikh, Kaga, at about 6:20 a.m. on Oct. 24.

“The arrests brought the number of suspects apprehended in connection with the investigation to 11, including five earlier arrests.

“Items listed as recovered during the raid included an AK-47 rifle, three empty magazines, 169 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, three terrorist uniforms, a turban, a head mask, two Android phones, three button phones and charms,” it said.

The report said the suspects were undergoing investigation to establish their alleged involvement in terrorist activities and identify possible links to other members of the network.

It added that troops of 192 Battalion (Main), supported by Hybrid Force personnel at Hambagda Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Gwoza, received a JAS member who surrendered at about 9:20 p.m. on Saturday.

According to the report, preliminary investigation indicated that the individual had escaped from a terrorist enclave in the Mandara Mountains area of Gwoza and decided to abandon terrorism.

“The individual surrendered with an AK-47 rifle and a magazine containing 28 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition,” it added.

The report said the defector was in custody undergoing further investigation and processing in line with established procedures.

It said the operations underscore OPHK’s continued efforts to disrupt terrorist activities, dismantle support networks and encourage defections through sustained, intelligence-led operations.

The military urged members of the public to provide credible and timely information to security agencies to support efforts to restore peace and enable displaced communities to return safely.

In a statement made available on Sunday by the spokesman for the 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. Olaniyi Osoba, said  the Kebbi’s operation was successfully concluded without any incident.

“The victims were subsequently handed over to the District Head of Dirindaji, Alhaji Usman Muhammad, through the Chairman of Sakaba Local Government Area,” the statement partly read.

Osoba reaffirmed the troops’ commitment to protecting lives and property in the state, stressing that they remained focused on safeguarding residents and communities.

“Troops remain committed to the protection of lives and property,” the statement added.

Aneke said the operations involved precision air strikes, armed reconnaissance, surveillance and close air support aimed at degrading hostile elements and strengthening the effectiveness of ground forces.

Ejodame added that the missions were guided by actionable intelligence, defined objectives and assessments of operational outcomes.

“Between November 2025 and September 2026, the NAF recorded over 6,100 flying hours and more than 2,900 sorties, consuming close to 10 million litres of Jet A-1 fuel in support of national security operations.

“These missions encompassed precision air strikes, armed reconnaissance, surveillance, close air support and other tasks designed to degrade hostile elements, disrupt their freedom of action and enhance the effectiveness of surface forces.

“Central to this effort has been intelligence-led mission planning, with operations guided by actionable intelligence, defined objectives and assessments of mission outcomes,” the statement partly said.

He added that the focus was to ensure that every sortie served a clear operational purpose and contributed meaningfully to national security.

Ejodame said the operational gains formed part of Aneke’s transformation agenda, which focused on operational effectiveness, personnel welfare, technological advancement and institutional accountability.

On personnel welfare, he said the Air Chief had adopted the principle of “Welfare for Enhanced Warfare,” recognising that adequately supported and motivated personnel were essential to sustained operational effectiveness.

He said the Service had pursued improvements in personnel allowances, medical support, accommodation and other infrastructure, while reactivating welfare airlift services for personnel deployed in frontline operational theatres.

Ejodame disclosed that 57 senior officers were promoted to the ranks of Air Vice Marshal and Air Commodore, while 1,534 senior non-commissioned officers and 1,936 non-commissioned officers also advanced to higher ranks.

He added that more than 550 personnel participated in international training and professional engagements, while over 6,000 received local training to strengthen their technical skills, specialised competencies and leadership capacity.

On fleet modernisation, he said the service received five additional helicopters in September, comprising three AW-109 Trekker Type B helicopters and two H125 helicopters.

He added that the Service was pursuing the acquisition of 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters and other aircraft and unmanned aerial systems to improve its combat, airlift, training, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

Ejodame further disclosed that six L-39ZA aircraft were undergoing reactivation and upgrades in Slovakia and Nigeria, while the periodic depot maintenance of a C-130 aircraft was ongoing in Portugal.

On infrastructure, he said the service had approved 284 projects, with 145 completed and 139 ongoing.

He said the projects covered residential accommodation, academic and medical facilities, administrative and operational infrastructure, roads, electricity, water supply and recreational facilities.

Ejodame also highlighted efforts to strengthen aviation safety and accountability through the establishment of an Operational and Safety Audit Committee and improvements to its Safety Management System.

According to him, the NAF is also developing structures to mitigate and respond to civilian harm, including standardised training and enhanced assessment and investigation capabilities.

He said plans were underway to establish an Open-Source Intelligence Centre to improve situational awareness and operational planning through the use of available information and emerging technologies.

On indigenous capacity, the NAF said it had pursued local production initiatives involving Aircraft Release Device 863 impulse release cartridges, a 250-kilogramme bomb-loading trolley and the development and ground testing of locally produced 57-millimetre rockets.

He added that community-focused healthcare, educational and other special projects had continued to strengthen civil-military relations and public confidence.

Ejodame said the Service remained committed to translating investments in personnel, aircraft, training, technology and infrastructure into improved operational outcomes.

“Through stronger joint operations, strategic partnerships, improved maintenance, professional development and responsible employment of airpower, the Service continues to pursue greater readiness and effectiveness in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges,” the statement added.