The Nigerian air force says it killed at least 2,351 militants in 2025 through sustained air interdiction operations across several conflict zones, describing the past year as one of its most decisive since the country’s insurgency began.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the director of public relations and information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the figure was recorded during 274 air interdiction missions flown in 379 combat sorties, targeting what he described as terrorist strongholds, logistics hubs, training camps and key movement corridors. The missions accounted for about 800 flight hours.
“The Nigerian air force recorded one of its most decisive operational years, neutralising no fewer than 2,351 terrorists through sustained, intelligence-driven air operations conducted across multiple operational theatres nationwide in 2025,” Ejodame said.
He added that the figures covered only air interdiction missions and excluded hundreds of other airpower operations, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, close air support for ground troops and armed reconnaissance flights.
According to the air force, the strikes significantly disrupted supply chains and mobility routes used by armed groups in the north-east, north-west and north-central regions, while providing critical support to ground forces seeking to reclaim contested territory.
In the Niger Delta, where militancy and oil theft have long undermined energy production, Ejodame said precision air operations delivered “strategic dividends”. Targeted strikes destroyed hundreds of illegal refining reservoirs, 126 storage tanks and several boats used by oil thieves and criminal syndicates.
“These actions substantially degraded the capacity of illicit actors to finance violence and organised crime, contributed to improved oil production, and reinforced national economic resilience,” he said.
The chief of the air staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, attributed the reported successes to improved aircraft availability, intelligence-led targeting, closer cooperation with other security agencies, increased government funding and the acquisition of new operational platforms.
“The Nigerian air force will remain relentless and decisive in taking the fight to all enemies of the Nigerian state,” Aneke said. “Criminal and terrorist elements will find no safe haven anywhere within our borders.”
He urged armed groups to renounce violence, warning that those who continued would face what he described as “precise and overwhelming air power”.
The air force claims came as the defence headquarters released its own assessment of operations across the country. At a media briefing, the director of defence media operations, Maj Gen Michael Onoja, said troops had neutralised several senior militant and bandit commanders, along with their deputies and fighters, during the year.
Those named included Aminu Kanawa, Dan Bokolo, Bello Buba, Dan Inna, Halilu Sabubu, Abu Dan Shehu Jabbi, Dogo Bashiru Yellow, Abba Allai, also known as Amirul Khalid of Alafa, Amir Abu Fatimah, Kingpin Auta, Abdul Jamilu, Salisu, Malla Jidda, Talha, Mallam Umar, Abu Yazeed, Kabiru Bebe, Maiwada, Mai Dada and Nwachi Eze, also known as Onowu. Others listed were Dosso, Suleiman, Jagaban and Danja.
Onoja said troops also arrested 4,375 suspects during the year and received the surrender of 1,616 militants and their family members, while 2,336 people held by kidnappers were rescued.
He highlighted the impact of Operation Delta Safe in the Niger Delta, where security forces disrupted oil theft valued at more than ₦8.9bn. According to the military, troops recovered over 16.6m litres of stolen crude oil and millions of litres of illegally refined fuel products, and destroyed more than 503 illegal refining sites.
“These kinetic and non-kinetic operations have strengthened security, improved social and economic activities, and reduced funding sources for criminal and terrorist networks,” Onoja said.
The military said the combination of air interdiction, ground operations, arrests, rescues and the surrender of fighters formed part of a broader strategy to protect civilians and stabilise conflict-affected regions across Nigeria in 2025.
While the armed forces continue to point to battlefield gains, analysts have repeatedly warned that lasting security will depend not only on military pressure but also on addressing the social, economic and governance failures that have allowed armed groups to take root across large parts of the country.
