The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced that a precision airstrike in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno State killed nine fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), including a senior commander.
The operation was carried out on Saturday, August 8, 2026, following intelligence reports on the movement and activities of suspected terrorists in the area.
According to the NAF, a Remotely Piloted Aircraft was deployed to conduct sustained intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. The aircraft identified and tracked a group of terrorists moving towards a suspected hideout before carrying out a precision strike.
The Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said subsequent intelligence confirmed that nine ISWAP fighters were killed, while several others sustained injuries.
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.
The Air Force said Al Muhajir's knowledge of routes, terrain and tactical movements connecting major terrorist enclaves in and around the Sambisa Forest made his reported death a significant operational setback for ISWAP.
The NAF also disclosed that intelligence indicated that some of the terrorists affected by the strike were linked to elements suspected of taking part in the recent ambush of Nigerian troops along the Bita-Yamtage axis in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The military said the latest operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led air operations, particularly the combination of persistent surveillance and precision strike capabilities.
According to the NAF, the operation is expected to disrupt ISWAP's leadership protection network, restrict the movement of high-value commanders and weaken the group's ability to coordinate activities across its various enclaves.
The Air Force said it would continue to conduct intelligence-driven and precision air operations in collaboration with ground forces to degrade terrorist capabilities, restrict their freedom of movement and improve security for communities across the North-East.
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