Over 2,351 Terrorists Killed By Air Strikes In 2025—NAF

The Nigerian Air Force on Wednesday said at least 2,351 terrorists were killed in 2025 through sustained, intelligence-driven air operations conducted across several conflict-prone regions of the country.

The operations spanned multiple theatres and relied heavily on air interdiction missions designed to disrupt terrorist networks and support ground forces.

The death scores resulted from “274 air interdiction missions executed during the year”.

According to the Nigerian Air Force spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, these missions formed part of broader combat efforts in which the Air Force flew 379 combat sorties aimed at identified terrorist strongholds, logistics bases, training camps and key movement corridors used by armed groups.

Beyond direct strike operations, Ejodame said the air interdiction missions alone accounted for about 800 flight hours, reflecting the scale and intensity of sustained aerial engagement.

He explained that the operations extended beyond eliminating fighters to achieving broader operational effects across major threat corridors in the North-East, North-West and North-Central regions.

He said, “The AI missions alone accumulated approximately 800 flight hours, underscoring the NAF’s sustained reach, persistence, and operational dominance.

“Beyond the immediate neutralisation of terrorist fighters, the air interdiction campaign delivered decisive operational effects across key threat corridors.

“Sustained precision strikes disrupted supply chains, severed mobility routes, and degraded leadership structures linking terrorist enclaves in the North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions, denying hostile elements freedom of movement and sanctuary.

“These effects enabled surface forces to advance, reclaim contested areas, and stabilise vulnerable communities, while significantly reducing the operational tempo and morale of terrorist and bandit groups.

“Overall, the campaign has resulted in a measurable contraction of hostile networks and a marked improvement in security across several previously threatened areas.”

The Air Force also deployed air assets to address maritime and energy-related security threats in the Niger Delta, where illegal oil refining and theft continue to undermine national revenue and fuel criminal activity.

Precision air operations in the region targeted infrastructure used by oil thieves and criminal syndicates, significantly weakening their operational capacity.

Ejodame said, “Targeted strikes led to the destruction of hundreds of illegal refining reservoirs, 126 storage tanks, and several boats used by oil thieves and criminal syndicates.

“These actions substantially degraded the capacity of illicit actors to finance violence and organised crime, contributed to improved oil production, and reinforced national economic resilience.

“The success of these missions further highlights the expanding role of air power in safeguarding critical national assets and supporting Nigeria’s economic recovery.”

Commenting on the overall operational outcomes, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, linked the results recorded in 2025 to improvements in intelligence use, operational readiness and inter-agency coordination.

He said the Air Force had improved targeting accuracy and mission effectiveness by increasing platform availability and enhancing aircrew proficiency.

“The outcomes recorded in 2025 clearly demonstrate the growing precision, effectiveness, and lethality of Nigerian Air Force air power,” he stated.

“These results were made possible through intelligence-driven targeting, improved platform availability, enhanced crew proficiency, and seamless integration with surface forces and other security agencies.”

Looking ahead, Aneke said the Air Force would sustain and intensify kinetic air operations in 2026 while maintaining strict compliance with Rules of Engagement and International Humanitarian Law.

He emphasised that ongoing operations would continue to prioritise civilian protection through improved intelligence validation, targeting procedures and mission oversight.

“The Nigerian Air Force will remain relentless and decisive in taking the fight to all enemies of the Nigerian state.

“Criminal and terrorist elements will find no haven anywhere within our borders,” he declared.

The Force pledged its commitment to reducing collateral damage and strengthening cooperation with other security agencies as part of broader efforts to restore stability.

It also urged citizens to remain vigilant and provide timely, credible information to security agencies, stressing that sustained public cooperation remains critical to long-term peace and national security.