Abuja, Nigeria: The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) announced on Wednesday that it has killed 592 armed militants in a series of airstrikes over the past eight months, marking what it describes as one of its most successful campaigns in recent years. The operations, conducted under Operation Hadin Kai, targeted insurgent strongholds in Borno State, the epicenter of Nigeria’s long-running conflict with Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
According to Air Chief Hasan Abubakar, the strikes between late 2024 and August 2025 destroyed over 200 vehicles and 166 logistics hubs, while nearly 800 combat sorties were flown, totaling more than 1,500 flight hours. Key target zones included Gonori, Rann, Dikwa, Damboa, Azir, and Mallam Fatori. The Air Force said these efforts have disrupted the command structures of insurgent factions and severely weakened their operational capabilities.
Despite the military’s claims of success, security analysts have expressed skepticism about the long-term impact. SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based security consultancy, noted that both Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to launch deadly attacks in Borno, raising questions about the sustainability of the gains. ISWAP’s late-2024 offensive left dozens dead and displaced thousands, underscoring the insurgents’ resilience.
The announcement comes just two days after the Nigerian military reported killing “scores” of bandit fighters in Zamfara State during a joint air-and-ground operation. Officials said more than 400 gang members had been preparing to attack a village when they were intercepted.
However, the Air Force’s track record has been clouded by a series of deadly errors in recent years, where civilians were mistakenly targeted. Incidents include the December 2023 drone strike in Tudun Biri, Kaduna State, that killed at least 85 people during a religious celebration, a September 2024 airstrike on a mosque in Kaduna that killed 24, and a December 2024 strike in Sokoto that left 10 civilians dead. According to independent reports, more than 400 civilians have been killed in military airstrikes since 2017, often due to flawed intelligence and poor coordination.
While the Nigerian military insists it is refining its targeting processes to minimize civilian harm, human rights groups argue that greater transparency, accountability, and investment in intelligence gathering are essential to preventing future tragedies. The latest figures from the Air Force highlight a significant escalation in aerial operations, but whether these numbers translate into lasting security for communities in Nigeria’s conflict zones remains uncertain.