The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has killed nine Islamic State West Africa Province fighters, including a senior commander, in an airstrike on a suspected terrorist hideout in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno State.
The operation was carried out on Saturday, August 8, 2026, following intelligence on the movement and activities of suspected terrorists in the area, according to the Nigerian Air Force.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday.
According to Ejodame, the NAF deployed a Remotely Piloted Aircraft to conduct persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations after receiving credible information about the terrorists.
The surveillance aircraft identified and tracked a group of fighters moving towards a suspected hideout.
After confirming the target, the aircraft carried out a precision strike on the location.
The NAF said a subsequent battle damage assessment showed significant effects on the targeted compound, with several terrorists killed.
Further intelligence received after the operation reportedly confirmed that nine ISWAP fighters were killed, while several others sustained injuries.
Among those killed was identified as Abu Khalid Al Muhajir, described by the NAF as a prominent ISWAP commander responsible for providing special security escorts for senior members of the group.
The NAF said Al Muhajir had extensive knowledge of routes, terrain and tactical movements connecting major terrorist enclaves in the Sambisa Forest and surrounding areas.
It described his death as a significant operational setback for ISWAP, particularly in relation to the movement and protection of senior members of the group.
The military 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 NAF said the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led air operations, particularly the combination of persistent surveillance and precision strike capabilities.
It added that the strike was expected to disrupt ISWAP’s leadership protection arrangements, movement of high-value personnel and coordination across its enclaves.
The service said it would continue to conduct intelligence-driven and precision air operations in coordination with surface forces to degrade terrorist capabilities, restrict their freedom of movement and improve security for communities in the North-East.
