By Gabriel Ameh
Abuja | Media360Impact Report
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its latest air operation in Borno State has killed nine Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, including a senior commander.
The precision strike was conducted on Saturday, August 8, 2026, against suspected ISWAP fighters operating within the Sambisa Forest following intelligence on their movements and activities.
In a statement, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the operation was carried out after sustained Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions identified the suspected terrorists.
The NAF said a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) was deployed to conduct persistent surveillance over the area.
According to the service, the surveillance operation detected a group of terrorists moving towards a suspected hideout.
After the targets were identified and confirmed, the aircraft carried out a precision strike on the location.
The NAF said an initial battle damage assessment showed significant impact on the targeted compound, with several terrorists neutralised.
Further intelligence received after the operation reportedly confirmed that nine ISWAP fighters were killed, while several others sustained injuries.
Among those reportedly killed was Abu Khalid Al Muhajir, whom the NAF described as a prominent ISWAP commander.
The military said Al Muhajir was responsible for providing special security escorts for the movement of senior members of the terrorist group.
According to the NAF, his reported knowledge of routes, terrain and tactical movements connecting major terrorist enclaves within the Sambisa Forest and surrounding areas makes his reported elimination a significant setback for ISWAP.
The service also said intelligence indicated that some of the fighters affected by 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 operation highlights the NAF’s increasing reliance on intelligence-led air operations in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria’s North-East.
The Air Force said the combination of persistent surveillance and precision strike capabilities enables it to identify and track terrorist elements before they can regroup or launch further attacks against troops and vulnerable communities.
The operation, the NAF added, is also expected to disrupt ISWAP’s leadership protection arrangements, movement of senior operatives and coordination across its enclaves.
The Nigerian Air Force said it would continue to conduct intelligence-driven and precision air operations in coordination with ground forces to degrade terrorist capabilities, restrict their freedom of movement and improve security across communities affected by insurgency in the North-East.
