Nigerian Army to conduct live-fire training in Bauchi, urges calm

By Ahmed Muhammad, Bauchi

The Headquarters of the 33 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army has announced plans to hold a range classification exercise at the Shadawanka Small Arms Range in Bauchi State.

The exercise, according to a statement issued on Friday by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Lt. Esther Fagbolagun, will run from April 27 to April 30, 2026, between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily.

Ms Fagbolagun said the exercise forms part of the brigade’s routine training aimed at improving soldiers’ proficiency in weapon handling and marksmanship.

“The exercise is part of our annual training programme designed to enhance troops’ efficiency in weapon handling and the application of marksmanship principles,” she said.

She added that personnel would undertake live-fire drills to evaluate their readiness.

“It will involve accurate shooting drills and test firing of personal weapons to assess the overall battle readiness of our personnel,” she said.

The army advised residents of Shadawanka and neighbouring communities to expect increased troop movement and intermittent gunfire during the period.

Ms Fagbolagun, however, reassured the public on safety.

“All necessary safety measures have been put in place to ensure that there is no threat to lives and property during the exercise,” she said.

She urged residents not to panic.

“We appeal to members of the public to remain calm and go about their lawful activities. We also call on community leaders and stakeholders to help disseminate this information for wider awareness,” she added.

Troops destroy speedboats and neutralise 30 terrorists on Lake Chad islands.

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Troops of the Northeast Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have neutralised 30 Islamic State West Africa Province’s (ISWAP) terrorists on the Kaniram Island of Lake Chad in Borno State.

The ground troops also destroyed several speedboats belonging to the terrorists during offensive military operations conducted along the waterways of the lake between April 21 and 22, 2026.

OPHK Media Information Officer Lt-Col. Sani Uba said yesterday in Maiduguri that “the air component of the military operations delivered devastating precision air strikes that dismantled ISWAP terrorist logistics networks along the Lake Chad waterways and in the Kaniram Island axis of Northern Borno State.”

Regarding the destruction of boats, Uba revealed: “Acting on credible Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) inputs, OPHK air assets established a persistent overhead presence and confirmed the concentration of over 30 terrorist boats and associated terrorist elements coordinating movement and resupply activities.

“We carefully achieved our targeted validation and positive identification, ensuring high targeting fidelity before engaging with the terrorists.”

He explained that following deliberate confirmation in line with Rules of Engagement, OPHK executed well-coordinated precision strikes, which led to the destruction of several boats and disrupted their logistics hubs in the Lake Chad region.

The Information Officer noted that this has degraded their mobility and ability to sustain operations.

Besides neutralising the insurgent on the waterways, Uba stated, “The real-time ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) enabled rapid follow-on strikes on the fleeing and regrouping elements within nearby vegetation, leading to the neutralisation of more than 30 terrorists.”

“Surviving elements were observed escaping in disarray, reflecting a breakdown in their cohesion and command structure.”

In a related engagement with the terrorists at Sowolwolo in the Sambisa Forest axis, additional precision-guided strikes were conducted following target fidelity acquisition with partners.

According to him, the airstrike took out three terrorist gun trucks and neutralised more terrorists in the vicinity.

The Battle Damage Assessment (BDA), backed by information gathered after the strike, showed that the enemy suffered heavy losses, including signs of mass burials, particularly by ISWAP groups in the Mallam Fatori area.

These findings further underscored the scale of attrition inflicted. on the terrorists

Ground forces are currently exploiting the effects of these strikes to dominate adjoining areas and prevent any reconstitution by the fleeing elements.

These military operations highlight OPHK’s sustained offensive pressure and effective air–land integration in dismantling terrorist networks, degrading their capabilities, and denying them the freedom of action across the Joint Operations Area.

The Military High Command commended the troops for their impressive battle performance and urged the soldiers to sustain aggressive operations to dominate the battle space.

Sambisa Blitz: NAF Airstrikes Hit Boko Haram Strongholds, Dozens Reportedly Eliminated

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its fighter jets have carried out a series of precision strikes on suspected Boko Haram hideouts in the Yuwe axis of Sambisa Forest, Borno State, reportedly killing several insurgents and destroying key facilities.

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Maiduguri, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the operation formed part of ongoing offensives by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai aimed at weakening terrorist networks in the North-East.

Ejodame explained that the strikes followed actionable intelligence, which was further verified through Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The surveillance confirmed the presence of active insurgents occupying fortified positions, including bunkers and logistics hubs within the forest.

He noted that the aerial assault, which lasted about 30 minutes, involved the deployment of precision-guided munitions that successfully destroyed the identified targets. According to him, post-strike assessments indicated significant damage to terrorist infrastructure and the neutralisation of dozens of fighters.

“The sustained operational tempo continues to disrupt the terrorists’ capabilities, forcing them into disarray and limiting their freedom of movement,” Ejodame said, adding that the pressure has compelled insurgents in the area to adopt increasingly desperate tactics.

The statement also quoted the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, as reaffirming the Air Force’s determination to sustain intelligence-led operations until terrorist elements are completely dismantled.

“We remain resolute in safeguarding our personnel, protecting the nation, and ensuring the safety of citizens,” Aneke said. “Our operations will continue to be precise, deliberate, and in strict adherence to established rules of engagement, with utmost consideration for civilian safety.”

Military authorities say the latest strike is part of a broader campaign to degrade insurgent strongholds across Sambisa Forest and surrounding enclaves, long regarded as a key base of Boko Haram operations.