The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has killed nine Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, including a notorious top commander, in an airstrike inside the Sambisa Forest area of Borno State.
The Air Force said the top commander, who was identified as Abu Khalid Al Muhajir, played a key role in providing safe passage and special security escorts for senior leadership of the terrorist group.
Based on actionable intelligence on the movements and gatherings of suspected terrorists within the forest enclave, it is understood that the successful military operation was executed on Saturday, August 8, 2026.
This development was confirmed in an official statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame.
Explaining how the operation was conducted, Air Commodore Ejodame said a drone, officially known as a Remotely Piloted Aircraft was deployed into the sky to conduct sustained aerial surveillance, monitoring and tracking over the area.
He said air force operators closely monitored the movement of the armed men as they headed to a hidden location before carrying out a direct, targeted strike.
The successful operation, carried out on Saturday, August 8, 2026, was based on credible intelligence on the activities and movement of suspected terrorists within the Sambisa Forest area. Based on this intelligence, the NAF launched a Remotely Piloted Aircraft to conduct persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, which enabled the identification and tracking of a group of terrorists as they moved towards a suspected hideout,” Ejodame said.
“Following positive identification and confirmation of the target, NAF aircraft conducted a precision engagement on the location, he said. Later battle damage assessment revealed major impact on the targeted compound with several terrorists neutralised.”
The NAF spokesperson added that intelligence sources confirmed that the heavy bomb explosion killed nine ISWAP fighters on the spot with many others sustaining varying degrees of injuries.
The Air Force said Abu Khalid Al Muhajir’s killing is a huge blow to the internal network and movement of the terrorist organization.
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Al Muhajir was a trusted strategist who had an extensive knowledge of secret routes in the forest, difficult terrain and tactical paths linking major terrorist camps in the Sambisa Forest and surrounding communities, military reports said.
The statement also disclosed that some of the terrorists neutralized during the strike were linked to a recent deadly ambush against Nigerian troops along the Bita-Yamtage axis in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The military said the destruction of the hideout will greatly impair ISWAP’s capability to protect its top leaders, move high value personnel and coordinate attacks across the Northeast region.
The Air Force reiterated its commitment to restoring peace in the region, saying it will continue to use intelligence-backed air strikes in conjunction with ground troops to weaken terrorist networks, block their movements and protect local communities across the region.
