The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reported a highly successful year of counter-terrorism operations, eliminating a significant number of hostile elements across the country. In a major disclosure, the service confirmed it neutralised no fewer than 2,351 terrorists throughout the year 2025.
Sustained Air Campaign Yields Results
This achievement was the result of a relentless and intelligence-driven air campaign. According to the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the NAF executed 274 Air Interdiction (AI) missions. These critical missions were flown in 379 combat sorties, targeting terrorist strongholds, logistics hubs, training camps, and key mobility corridors.
Ejodame, in a statement released on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, noted that these figures represent only a portion of the NAF's total efforts. They exclude hundreds of additional missions involving Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), close air support for ground troops, and armed reconnaissance. The AI missions alone accumulated approximately 800 flight hours, demonstrating the force's extensive reach and operational persistence.
Strategic Impact on Terrorist Networks
The air campaign delivered decisive strategic effects beyond just eliminating fighters. Precision strikes systematically disrupted enemy supply chains, severed their mobility routes, and degraded leadership structures. This was particularly effective in linking terrorist enclaves across the North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions of Nigeria.
"These operations denied hostile elements freedom of movement and sanctuary," Air Commodore Ejodame explained. He added that the effects enabled surface forces to advance, reclaim contested territories, and stabilise vulnerable communities. The campaign significantly reduced the operational tempo and morale of terrorist and bandit groups, leading to a measurable contraction of their networks and improved security in previously threatened areas.
Expanding Role in Maritime and Economic Security
The NAF's precision air power also proved vital in the Niger Delta, safeguarding the nation's economic assets. Targeted strikes led to the destruction of:
- Hundreds of illegal refining reservoirs.
- 126 storage tanks.
- Several boats used by oil thieves and criminal syndicates.
These actions substantially degraded the capacity of illicit actors to finance violence and organised crime. The NAF spokesman highlighted that this contributed to improved oil production and reinforced national economic resilience, showcasing the expanding role of air power in protecting critical national assets.
Leadership Commitment and Future Resolve
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, reaffirmed the Service's unwavering resolve to maintain pressure on all national security threats. He attributed the 2025 successes to intelligence-driven targeting, improved platform availability, enhanced crew proficiency, and seamless integration with other security agencies.
Aneke credited the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for its sustained support, noting that investments in modern air platforms, personnel welfare, training, and infrastructure were critical to enhanced operational readiness. He assured Nigerians that the NAF will intensify kinetic air operations in 2026 while strictly adhering to Rules of Engagement and International Humanitarian Law.
"Criminal and terrorist elements will find no safe haven anywhere within our borders," the Air Marshal declared. He cautioned misguided individuals to renounce violence and embrace peace, warning that those who persist will face precise and overwhelming air power. The NAF also reassured citizens that the protection of civilians remains central to its operations, with continuous improvements in processes to minimise collateral damage.
Finally, Nigerians were encouraged to remain vigilant and support security agencies with timely and credible information, maintaining confidence in the Armed Forces' commitment to restoring lasting peace and national prosperity.
