The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed the elimination of several senior commanders of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) in a targeted airstrike in Borno State.
The operation, which took place on Saturday, July 27, was carried out at Arina Woje, a known ISWAP stronghold located in the Southern Tumbuns near Lake Chad.
In a statement released, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the air raid followed credible intelligence and surveillance reports that revealed the movement of a large number of terrorists in the area.
According to him, NAF fighter jets deployed for the mission successfully dropped precision-guided bombs on the hideout, destroying multiple buildings, including those used by ISWAP’s top leaders and for logistics.
“Air assets were dispatched for a focused strike mission. On arrival, the aircrew acquired and prosecuted pre-selected targets using precision-guided munitions, achieving devastating effects,” the statement said.
Gabkwet explained that the airstrike had significantly weakened ISWAP’s command structure, disrupted their planning capability, and affected their supply routes.
The operation was conducted under Operation Hadin Kai, which is aimed at supporting ground troops and flushing out terrorists from their enclaves in the North-East region.
He added that the success of the mission further highlights the effectiveness of intelligence-driven air operations in Nigeria’s ongoing fight against terrorism.
