The Nigerian Air Force has neutralised more than 40 terrorists in coordinated close air support and air interdiction operations at Azir and Musarram areas of Borno, disrupting planned attacks and bolstering ongoing ground operations. This was contained in a statement released by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, on Sunday in Abuja. He said the NAF aircraft, in the early hours of January 16, swiftly responded to a distress report at Azir, where troops were engaged with terrorists withdrawing from the area. “On arrival, the aircraft sighted about 10 canoes and over 40 suspected terrorists, who were engaged in multiple passes, throwing them into disarray. Aneke said the operations demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led air power and close air–ground coordination in denying terrorists freedom of action.

Source: Punch January 18, 2026 15:31 UTC