Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: air strikes

  • Air Force Launches Investigation into Civilian Casualties in Niger State

    Air Force Launches Investigation into Civilian Casualties in Niger State

    In an update published by ThisDay, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) activated a Civilian Harm Accident and Investigation (CHAI) team to probe reports of civilian deaths during a recent air interdiction in Niger State. The operation in Kurigi Village targeted suspected bandit leadership, but local accounts allege non-combatants were also affected.

    NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said the service is committed to transparency and will conduct a comprehensive field assessment. The probe follows mounting pressure from communities and rights groups for improved precision in strikes near populated areas.

    The Punch corroborated the launch of the investigation, while Daily Post quoted local leaders describing the losses as devastating and calling for accountability.

    Echotitbits take: Creating a formal civilian-harm investigation mechanism is reputationally important for the NAF. But unless targeting is consistently supported by stronger ground intelligence and deconfliction processes, recurring incidents will continue to undermine legitimacy and fuel local resentment.

    Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/naf-probes-alleged-civilian-casualties-in-niger-air-raid/ 2026-01-29

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Nigerian Air Force to Leverage US Intelligence for Enhanced Counter‑Terrorism Strikes

    Nigerian Air Force to Leverage US Intelligence for Enhanced Counter‑Terrorism Strikes

    Reporting by The Guardian indicates that the Nigerian Air Force plans to intensify operations against insurgent groups by incorporating reconnaissance data provided by the United States to better locate and strike terrorist hideouts.

    Nigerian officials say the military will integrate real‑time intelligence from US flight missions to improve target accuracy, build on recent strikes in the Northwest and Northeast, and reduce collateral damage while increasing operational effectiveness.

    The development was also reported by Vanguard and The Nation, which both highlighted the expected impact of intelligence sharing on Nigeria’s air campaign against ISWAP and bandit networks.

    Echotitbits take: The integration of US recon data addresses a long‑standing gap in actionable intelligence. If implemented well, it could help disrupt bandit leadership and logistics—provided the military maintains strong ground‑level human intelligence to avoid over‑reliance on technology.

    Source: AirForce – https://airforce.mil.ng/news/united-states-commends-nigerian-air-force-counter-terrorism-efforts1323475460 2026-01-07

    Photo Credit: Nigerian Air Force Media

  • Former Attorney General Aondoakaa Demands US Air Strikes on Benue Bandits

    Former Attorney General Aondoakaa Demands US Air Strikes on Benue Bandits

    According to The Punch, former Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, has made a controversial call for the Nigerian government to invite US military air strikes against bandits terrorizing Benue State. Aondoakaa argued that the local security apparatus has been overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the gangs and that international intervention is now required to prevent a total collapse of order in the Middle Belt.

    The senior lawyer suggested that the US could deploy precision drones similar to those used in counter-terrorism operations elsewhere. His remarks have sparked a fierce debate over national sovereignty and the effectiveness of current military strategies. Critics argue that foreign intervention could complicate the local conflict, while supporters believe it is a necessary ‘shock therapy’ for the escalating violence.

    Validation of these remarks appeared in Daily Post and Leadership. Daily Post reported that ‘Aondoakaa’s proposal has divided the legal and security community,’ while Leadership quoted a security analyst who warned: ‘Inviting foreign strikes on your own soil is a dangerous precedent that rarely ends well.’

    Echotitbits take: This is a desperate call that reflects the level of frustration in Benue State. While highly unlikely to happen—as the US rarely intervenes in internal banditry—it puts immense pressure on the Nigerian Air Force to show more ‘precision’ in their own operations. Watch for a defensive statement from the Defence Headquarters in response to Aondoakaa.
    Source: The Punch  – https://punchng.com/ex-agf-aondoakaa-calls-for-us-air-strikes-in-benue/ January 5, 2026

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • DHQ deploys GPS-guided munitions in reported Sokoto counter-terror strikes

    DHQ deploys GPS-guided munitions in reported Sokoto counter-terror strikes

    2026-01-01 07:25:00
    Reporting by Reuters indicates Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters deployed GPS-guided precision munitions in operations targeting militant enclaves in Sokoto State.

    The report suggests the strikes were aimed at degrading command structures and limiting mobility routes in forest corridors used by armed groups, amid pressure to show measurable security gains.

    The implication is a shift toward more technology-driven targeting that could reduce risk to ground troops while expanding the air campaign footprint.

    ThisDay also reported Nigeria’s military used “GPS-guided precision munitions” in the Sokoto operation.

    A separate local follow-up likewise described strikes intended to disrupt bandit enclaves and logistics routes.

    Echotitbits take:

    Tech can improve targeting, but success depends on intelligence quality and post-strike ‘hold’ operations. Watch for independent confirmation, civilian-harm reporting, and whether communities experience fewer raids afterward.

    Source: Reuters — December 31, 2025 (https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeria-used-gps-guided-precision-munitions-sokoto-strikes-via-mq-9s-sources-say-2025-12-31/)

    Reuters 2025-12-31

    Photo Credit: Reuters

  • Nigerian Air Force claims 2,351 terrorists killed in 2025 air campaign

    Nigerian Air Force claims 2,351 terrorists killed in 2025 air campaign

    2026-01-01 07:30:00
    Figures cited by Punch show the Nigerian Air Force says it neutralised 2,351 terrorists in 2025 through sustained air interdiction operations across multiple theatres.

    The service said repeated sorties were aimed at severing supply chains, disrupting movement corridors, and weakening leadership structures across key conflict zones.

    Beyond counter-terror missions, the NAF also highlighted operations targeting oil theft infrastructure in the Niger Delta.

    The Whistler quoted the NAF describing the campaign as “Sustained precision strikes” that “disrupted supply chains.”

    The Guardian Nigeria also reported targeted strikes led to the destruction of illegal refining reservoirs and related assets.

    Echotitbits take:

    Headline numbers need verification. Watch whether 2026 sees fewer mass abductions and attacks in high-risk corridors, and whether air gains are matched by ground holding operations and community intelligence.

    Source: The Punch — January 1, 2026 (https://punchng.com/2351-terrorists-killed-in-2025-air-raids-naf/)

    The Punch 2026-01-01

    Photo Credit: The Punch