Nigeria’s military says air strikes by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai have killed about 38 suspected terrorists in separate operations in Borno State. The strikes, carried out between August 21 and 22, followed intelligence and surveillance missions that tracked groups of suspected terrorists in Aduwa and Buratai. An initial strike in Aduwa reportedly killed 16 fighters, while a follow-up operation targeting 10 who fled the area brought the reported total there to 26. In a separate strike near Buratai, another 12 suspected terrorists were reportedly killed after being tracked to a hut.
The operations are part of intensified efforts to weaken terrorist groups, disrupt their movements and dismantle their formations across Nigeria’s northeast. The strikes were a significant success for the military, demonstrating the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations. The killing of 38 terrorists will disrupt the group’s operations and degrade its capacity to launch attacks. The military’s intensified campaign is a welcome development, but the insurgency's underlying drivers remain unresolved. For every terrorist killed, there is a new recruit waiting to take his place.
This echoes the 2020 air strikes in Borno, which also targeted terrorist hideouts. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a military campaign that degrades but does not eliminate the insurgency.
The winners: the Nigerian military, which has delivered a significant blow to the terrorists; and the residents of Borno, who may benefit from improved security. The losers: the terrorists, who have lost fighters; and the Nigerian government, which must sustain the momentum.
Bottom Line: Thirty-eight terrorists are dead. The air strikes are working. The question is whether the military can sustain the pressure or the insurgency will regroup.