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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has successfully carried out an airstrike, neutralising a top commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Bashir Dauda, along with 50 other militants.

The operation, conducted in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State, targeted key ISWAP strongholds and a major supply depot, significantly impacting the terrorist group’s logistical network.

According to a statement by NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, the strike on October 31 aimed at three main ISWAP enclaves, including Tumbun Daribiyar, Jubularam, Buluwa, and Tumbu Karfe.

Akinboyewa described the strike as a “precision operation focused on ISWAP strongholds,” underscoring the Nigerian military’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism in the nation’s northeast.

“This operation marks a significant step in the fight against terrorism, as it targeted ISWAP’s logistical and operational lifelines,” he said.

He added that on-ground assessments confirmed the deaths of approximately 50 ISWAP fighters, including Bashir Dauda, a high-ranking commander within the terror group.

The NAF spokesperson highlighted that one of the main targets, a well-stocked ISWAP supply depot in Jubularam, was successfully destroyed.

The warehouse contained a substantial cache of essential items, including staple foods like beans, millet, and rice, which were crucial to sustaining the group’s activities in the region.

“This successful mission disrupted a critical resource line, depriving ISWAP of food supplies that fuel their operations,” Akinboyewa said.

This operation is part of an intensified series of actions by Nigerian forces to curb insurgent influence and reduce ISWAP’s capacity to launch attacks in Borno State and other northeastern areas.

The NAF’s recent airstrike aligns with its broader mission to degrade ISWAP’s resources, minimise its operational presence, and support regional stability efforts.