Nigeria’s military says airstrikes in Borno State have killed about 36 suspected terrorists in a series of intelligence-led operations.
The strikes were carried out between the night of August 21 and the early hours of August 22, 2026, as part of the military’s ongoing Operation Hadin Kai campaign against terrorist groups in the North-East.
According to the Joint Task Force, the operations followed intelligence reports that were subsequently verified through Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
Strikes Hit Targets in Monguno and Biu
The military said its air component identified suspected terrorist movements in Monguno and Biu Local Government Areas.
In the first operation, an armed reconnaissance aircraft tracked suspected fighters around the Aduwa axis of Monguno before detecting a larger gathering inside a settlement.
After surveillance and operational approval, the aircraft carried out two precision strikes.
A subsequent assessment of the target area indicated that about 16 suspected terrorists had been killed, according to the military.
The aircraft then continued monitoring the area and detected another group of approximately 10 suspected terrorists attempting to regroup away from the original target.
A further strike was conducted against the group.
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Another Strike Reported Near Buratai
A separate operation took place around Buratai in Biu LGA.
The military said an air platform tracked another group of suspected terrorists gathered at a location in the area.
Following additional surveillance and authorisation, the aircraft carried out a precision strike.
The military reported that approximately 10 suspected terrorists were neutralised.
Taken together, the operations produced the military’s reported total of about 36 suspected terrorists killed.
Military Highlights Intelligence Gathering
Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer at the Headquarters of Joint Task Force North-East, said the operations demonstrated the increasing role of intelligence and surveillance capabilities in identifying terrorist movements.
The military said the campaign is designed to prevent terrorist groups from:
- Gathering in large numbers.
- Regrouping after military pressure.
- Moving supplies and personnel freely.
- Maintaining effective command and control.
- Rebuilding their fighting formations.
The air campaign is part of the broader Operation Hadin Kai counter-terrorism effort across the North-East.
Military Combines Strikes With Non-Kinetic Measures
The Joint Task Force said military operations are being accompanied by measures aimed at addressing the wider security environment.
These include community engagement, strategic communication, counter-messaging and humanitarian coordination.
The military also urged terrorists and their associates to abandon armed violence and surrender, saying recent defections and surrenders indicate increasing pressure on terrorist networks.
Residents Urged to Share Information
Operation Hadin Kai called on residents to remain alert and provide security agencies with timely, credible information about suspicious activity.
The military said cooperation from local communities remains essential to identifying threats before they escalate and protecting civilians and property.
It pledged to maintain coordinated operations against terrorist networks while supporting broader efforts to restore peace, security and normal economic activity across the North-East.