Nigerian Military Says Air, Ground Operation Killed 18 Terrorists in Borno

The Nigerian military reported that a coordinated air and ground operation in Borno State killed more than 18 terrorists and destroyed logistics hubs at a known enclave. The operation, part of the ongoing Operation Hadin Kai, was conducted in the early hours of Friday, September 11, 2026, at Tumbunma Baba in the Tumbuns general area. According to a statement from Captain Mohammed Goni, the acting military information officer for the Joint Task Force North East, the operation was based on credible intelligence gathered over several weeks. This intelligence indicated the presence of high-profile terrorist elements at a convergence of meeting and logistics nodes within the islands. The intelligence was further validated through surveillance and confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions that began on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The military stated that following positive identification of the targets, air platforms engaged the designated locations with precision munitions. Ground troops of Sector 1 of the task force simultaneously occupied likely escape routes to prevent terrorists from fleeing and to engage them directly.