The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has killed several senior ISWAP commanders, including Saddam and Saleh Garin Kago, in a precision air strike on terrorist hideouts in the Sambisa forest area of Borno state.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the operation, carried out by the air component of operation Hadin Kai at about 6:08am on Friday, targeted structures in the Yuwe axis confirmed through intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) as command hideouts and logistics warehouses.
Sources told the publication that the strike also eliminated Hussaini Ubaida and Ba Alayi Benbem, while destroying key terrorist facilities.
Zagazola Makama reported that military aircraft engaged the targets with precision-guided munitions after departing base upon target confirmation.
Post-strike battle damage assessment showed the command hubs and storage sites were effectively destroyed, significantly degrading ISWAP’s operational capacity in the Sambisa corridor.
Zagazola said efforts are ongoing to verify additional casualties from the strike. The theatre command reiterated its commitment to intelligence-driven operations to dismantle terrorist leadership, disrupt supply lines and deny insurgents safe havens in the north-east.
