Bandits: We Used Fighter Jet, Tracked Them On Motorcycles To Their Forest Hideouts & Killed Them-DHQ

Bandits: We Used Fighter Jet, Tracked Them On Motorcycles To Their Forest Hideouts & Killed Them-DHQ

According to a video published by Viable TV on Thursday, July 2, 2026, the Defence Headquarters announced that the Nigerian Air Force carried out a successful precision airstrike against suspected terrorists after tracking them to their hideouts in the Kandan area of Yadi Forest, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on June 19.

The Defence Headquarters spokesperson said aerial surveillance platforms monitored the movement of the suspected terrorists as they travelled on motorcycles into the forest before air assets engaged and destroyed them along with their supplies at the hideout.

He explained that the operation formed part of an intensified air campaign across Kaduna State, which had included continuous patrols over the Kaduna–Abuja highway and the vicinity of the Nigerian Defence Academy following the technical disruption experienced on the Abuja–Kaduna rail line days earlier.

According to the spokesperson, the June 19 strike was intended to capitalize on the ongoing operations by preventing the suspected terrorists from regrouping or relocating to other areas.

Describing the mission, he stated, "On the 19th, air power assets in the Kandan area of Yadi forest in Giwa local government area, Kaduna state tracked terrorists on motorcycles to their forest hideouts and executed a precision strike, neutralizing the terrorists and their stores."

He also revealed that a similar operation was conducted on June 22 in the same Kandan area, where four suspected terrorists riding motorcycles were tracked to another hideout and neutralized.

The spokesperson said reports from residents of Giwa and surrounding communities suggested that the sustained air operations had substantially disrupted the activities of terrorists and bandits by limiting their movement and operational capacity.

He added that the repeated air interdiction missions highlight the Nigerian Air Force's increasing contribution to joint military operations aimed at supporting ground forces and weakening the capabilities of armed groups operating within Kaduna State's forested areas.