Inside Nigeria’s Expanding Air War: 2,351 Terrorists Killed in a Year of Intensified Strikes

By Zainab Uzomah

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it killed more than 2,300 terrorists in
its 2025 counter-terrorism campaign, detailing a sharp increase in air operations that it says dealt major blows to armed groups across several regions;
marking one of its most intensive air campaigns in recent years.

In a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the NAF said the deaths resulted from 274 air interdiction missions flown in 379 combat sorties targeting militant strongholds, logistics hubs and mobility routes in the North-East, North-West and North-Central regions. The missions alone accounted for about 800 flight hours.

The figures exclude a wider set of airpower missions, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance flights, close air support and armed reconnaissance.

The Air Force said sustained precision strikes had disrupted supply chains and leadership structures within armed groups, restricting their movement, resupply channels and ability to launch coordinated attacks. It said the operations helped ground forces reclaim contested areas and weakened the morale and operational tempo of multiple terrorist and bandit factions.

Strikes on oil theft networks

The NAF also highlighted operations in the Niger Delta, where targeted air strikes destroyed hundreds of illegal refining reservoirs, 126 storage tanks and several boats used by oil thieves. The service said the missions degraded the ability of criminal networks to finance violence and contributed to improvements in national oil production.

Air Chief credits intelligence and improved capability

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, said the results showed growing precision and effectiveness in air operations, driven by improved aircraft availability, enhanced crew training and closer coordination with other security agencies.

“These outcomes demonstrate the increasing lethality and efficiency of Nigerian Air Force air power,” he said.

He credited federal government investments under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for strengthening the service’s operational readiness.

More operations expected in 2026

Air Marshal Aneke said air operations would intensify in 2026, with continued adherence to rules of engagement and international humanitarian law. He urged fighters to surrender, warning that those who persist “will find no safe haven.”

The NAF also said the protection of civilians remains central to its operations, with ongoing improvements in intelligence validation and mission oversight.

Citizens were encouraged to remain vigilant and report credible information to security agencies.