NAF airstrike kills nine ISWAP fighters, commander in Borno

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) conducted an airstrike on August 8, 2026, in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno State, resulting in the deaths of nine Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, including a high-ranking commander. The strike, which followed intelligence on suspected terrorist activities in the forest, employed a Remotely Piloted Aircraft for persistent surveillance and reconnaissance.

The targeted individual, identified as Abu Khalid Al Muhajir, was described as a prominent ISWAP commander responsible for providing security escorts for the group's senior members. His death is seen as a significant setback for ISWAP's operations. The NAF emphasized that the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led air strikes and their role in disrupting terrorist leadership, movement, and coordination.

The service stated that they would continue to conduct precision air operations in coordination with ground forces to degrade terrorist capabilities and improve security in the region.

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