The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has dealt a major blow to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), killing nine fighters, including a key commander accused of providing special protection and movement support to the group’s senior operatives in Borno State.
The precision airstrike, carried out on Saturday, August 8, 2026, targeted suspected ISWAP elements operating around the Sambisa Forest following credible intelligence on the movement of terrorists in the area.
The latest operation is being described by the military as a significant setback to ISWAP’s operational structure, particularly its ability to move and protect high-value commanders across its forest enclaves.
In a statement on Sunday, the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said a Remotely Piloted Aircraft was deployed to conduct sustained Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance operations over the area.
According to Ejodame, the surveillance mission enabled the Air Force to identify a group of terrorists moving towards a suspected hideout.
“Following positive identification and confirmation of the target, the NAF aircraft conducted a precision engagement on the location,” he said.
The Air Force subsequently received intelligence confirming that nine ISWAP fighters had been killed, while several others sustained injuries in the strike.
Among those eliminated was Abu Khalid Al Muhajir, described by the NAF as a prominent ISWAP commander responsible for providing special security escorts for senior members of the terrorist organisation.
His reported death could prove particularly damaging to the group, as the commander was said to possess extensive knowledge of routes, terrain and tactical movements connecting major terrorist enclaves within the Sambisa Forest and adjoining areas.
The NAF said intelligence gathered after the operation also indicated that some of the fighters hit in the strike were linked to elements suspected of participating in the recent ambush of Nigerian troops along the Bita–Yamtage axis in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The latest strike underscores the growing emphasis by the military on intelligence-led air operations, combining persistent surveillance with precision targeting to hunt down terrorist formations before they can regroup or launch fresh attacks.
The NAF said the elimination of Al Muhajir and other fighters was expected to disrupt ISWAP’s security architecture, particularly arrangements for escorting senior commanders and facilitating the movement of high-value personnel between its enclaves.
Beyond the immediate casualties, the military believes the operation could hamper the group’s ability to coordinate attacks, reposition fighters and maintain freedom of movement across the Sambisa Forest.
The Air Force also stressed that the operation was conducted as part of ongoing efforts to degrade terrorist capabilities and deny insurgents safe havens in the North-East.
The NAF said it would continue to sustain intelligence-driven and precision air operations in close coordination with ground forces, with the objective of dismantling terrorist networks, restricting their freedom of movement and improving security for communities across the region.
The latest offensive comes as Nigerian security forces intensify pressure on terrorist groups operating across Borno and other parts of the North-East, with the military increasingly relying on aerial surveillance and targeted strikes to disrupt insurgent movements and neutralise key commanders.
With the reported elimination of a commander responsible for protecting senior ISWAP figures, the NAF’s latest operation could represent a fresh blow to the group’s command, mobility and coordination structure in one of its major strongholds.
