The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has killed nine Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, fighters in an airstrike conducted in the Sambisa Forest, Borno State.
The operation also eliminated a senior ISWAP commander identified as Abu Khalid Al Muhajir, who was reportedly responsible for providing security escorts for high-value members of the terrorist group.
NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed the development in a statement on Sunday, saying the operation was conducted on Saturday using a remotely piloted aircraft for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
According to him, the aircraft tracked a group of terrorists moving towards a suspected hideout in the Sambisa Forest.
“Following positive identification and confirmation of the target, NAF aircraft conducted a precision engagement on the location,” the statement said.
A battle damage assessment conducted after the strike confirmed that nine terrorists were killed, while several others sustained injuries.
Among those killed was Al Muhajir, whom the NAF described as a prominent ISWAP commander responsible for providing special security escorts to senior members of the group.
The Air Force said his elimination represented a significant setback for ISWAP because of his reported knowledge of routes, terrain and tactical movements connecting major terrorist enclaves within the Sambisa Forest and surrounding areas.
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Intelligence gathered after the operation also indicated that some of the fighters affected by the strike were linked to elements suspected of carrying out a recent ambush on Nigerian troops along the Bita-Yamtage axis in Gwoza Local Government Area.
The NAF said the operation demonstrated its intelligence-driven approach to counter-terrorism operations, combining intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities with precision airstrikes to identify and neutralise terrorist targets.
It said the latest strike was expected to disrupt ISWAP’s leadership protection arrangements, movement of high-value personnel and coordination of operations across its enclaves.
“Beyond the immediate casualties, the operation is expected to disrupt ISWAP’s leadership protection arrangements, movement of high-value personnel and coordination of activities across its enclaves,” the statement added.
The Air Force reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining air operations in coordination with ground forces to weaken terrorist capabilities and improve security across communities in the North-East.
The latest operation comes amid continued military efforts to degrade the operational capacity of ISWAP and other terrorist groups operating in the region.