Nigerian Air Force strike kills ISWAP commander, 8 others

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it has dealt a significant blow to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) following a precision air strike in Borno State that neutralised nine fighters, including a key commander.

The neutralised ISWAP leader was reportedly responsible for facilitating the movement and protection of high-value members of the group.

“The successful operation, conducted on Saturday, 8 August 2026, followed credible intelligence on the activities and movement of suspected terrorists within the Sambisa Forest area,” a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force headquarters, Air Commodore, Ehimen Ejodame said.

He said acting on intelligence, “the NAF deployed a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) to conduct persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), enabling the identification and tracking of a group of terrorists as they moved towards a suspected hideout.”

Following positive identification and confirmation of the target, the NAF aircraft conducted a precision engagement on the location.

Subsequent battle damage assessment indicated significant effects on the targeted compound, with several terrorists neutralised just as further intelligence received after the strike confirmed that nine ISWAP fighters were killed, while several others were wounded.

Among those reportedly neutralised was Abu Khalid Al Muhajir, described as a prominent ISWAP commander responsible for providing special security escorts for the movement of senior members of the terrorist group. “His elimination represents a significant operational setback for ISWAP, particularly given his reported knowledge of routes, terrain and tactical movements connecting major terrorist enclaves within the Sambisa Forest and surrounding areas,” the statement said.

Some of the terrorists affected by the strike were assessed to be linked to elements suspected to have been involved in the recent ambush of Nigerian troops along the Bita–Yamtage axis in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.