NAF Airstrike Kills Nine ISWAP Fighters, Commander in Borno

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says nine Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, including a senior commander, were killed in a precision airstrike in Borno State.

The operation was carried out on Saturday, August 8, 2026, following intelligence on the movement of suspected terrorists within the Sambisa Forest area.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, a Remotely Piloted Aircraft was deployed for sustained intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.

The surveillance reportedly detected a group of terrorists moving towards a suspected hideout. After the target was identified and confirmed, the aircraft carried out a precision strike on the location.

The Air Force said subsequent intelligence indicated that nine ISWAP fighters were killed in the operation, while several others sustained injuries.

Among those reportedly killed was Abu Khalid Al Muhajir, whom the NAF identified as a prominent ISWAP commander involved in providing security escorts for senior members of the terrorist group.

The military said his death could significantly disrupt the group’s operations, citing his knowledge of routes, terrain and tactical movements connecting terrorist enclaves within the Sambisa Forest and surrounding areas.

The NAF also said intelligence gathered after the operation suggested that some of the fighters targeted were linked to elements suspected of participating in the recent ambush of Nigerian troops along the Bita–Yamtage axis in Gwoza Local Government Area.

The latest operation forms part of the military’s continuing efforts to weaken terrorist networks in the North-East through intelligence-led air operations and coordinated action with ground forces.

The Air Force said the use of persistent surveillance alongside precision strikes is strengthening its ability to track terrorist movements and target identified threats.

It added that further operations would be sustained to disrupt ISWAP’s leadership structure, restrict the movement of high-value operatives and weaken the group’s ability to coordinate attacks across its various enclaves.

The NAF reaffirmed its commitment to working with ground forces to degrade terrorist capabilities and improve security across communities in the North-East.