The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has killed nine fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), including a senior commander, in a precision airstrike in Borno State.
The operation was conducted on Saturday in the Sambisa Forest area following intelligence on the movement and activities of suspected terrorists.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the operation was carried out using intelligence gathered through surveillance of the area.
According to him, a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) was deployed to conduct Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) after information was received about the movement of terrorists towards a suspected hideout.
“The aircraft tracked a group of terrorists moving towards a suspected hideout.
“Following positive identification and confirmation of the target, NAF aircraft conducted a precision engagement on the location,” Ejodame said.
He said a subsequent battle damage assessment confirmed that the compound was heavily hit, resulting in the deaths of nine terrorists, while several others were wounded.
Among those reportedly killed 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 group.
Ejodame said the elimination of the commander represented a significant setback for ISWAP because of his reported knowledge of routes, terrain and tactical movements connecting major terrorist enclaves within the Sambisa Forest and surrounding areas.
Intelligence gathered after the operation also indicated that some of the fighters affected by the airstrike were linked to elements suspected of involvement in the recent ambush of Nigerian troops along the Bita–Yamtage axis in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The NAF said the operation demonstrated the increasing effectiveness of its intelligence-driven air campaign, which combines persistent surveillance with precision strikes to identify and neutralise terrorist elements before they can regroup.
“Beyond the immediate casualties, the operation is expected to disrupt ISWAP’s leadership protection arrangements, movement of high-value personnel and coordination of activities across its enclaves,” the statement said.
The Air Force reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-led and precision air operations in coordination with ground forces to degrade terrorist capabilities and improve security across communities in the North-East.
