In a targeted mission against Boko Haram terrorists, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) successfully carried out airstrikes on 25 October 2024, hitting two critical meeting locations in Bula Marwa, Borno State. The strikes resulted in the deaths of dozens of terrorists, according to Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, NAF’s spokesperson.
The NAF’s Air Component identified Bula Marwa as a high-level meeting hub for Boko Haram leaders through Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. “Our ISR missions confirmed a notable increase in terrorist activity, with a high influx of motorcycles and groups of combatants gathering across the site,” Akinboyewa explained.
After verifying the presence of multiple suspected terrorists, NAF dispatched fighter jets for an air interdiction operation. ISR footage captured groups of terrorists converging at a location on 12 motorcycles, which were then traced to a primary meeting point where additional fighters had gathered. “The first airstrike effectively engaged the targeted area, delivering a powerful blow to the terrorist assembly,” Akinboyewa noted.
Following the initial attack, ISR aircraft observed more terrorists returning to the site to assess the damage and assist the wounded. This movement prompted NAF forces to conduct follow-up airstrikes, which neutralized more combatants.
Later in the day, additional ISR scans detected another group of Boko Haram fighters gathering at a second location under a large tree. Upon confirmation, NAF launched a precision airstrike on this new site, achieving a direct hit that neutralized numerous terrorists.