Abuja: The Nigerian Air Force has carried out a precision airstrike on a militant hideout in the Sambisa Forest of Borno State, killing more than 15 Islamist fighters and destroying key infrastructure used by insurgents.

The operation, conducted on September 3, was based on surveillance and intelligence reports confirming militant presence in the area. Air Force spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said the strike took place at around 11:50 a.m. in a section of the forest identified as Zuwa, which had been serving as a base for militants fleeing previous ground assaults.

Officials reported that the strike not only killed the fighters but also destroyed facilities used by the insurgents, significantly disrupting their ability to regroup. The Sambisa Forest has long served as a strategic base for Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), groups responsible for years of violence, mass displacement, and kidnappings in northeastern Nigeria, including the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014.

The Nigerian military has intensified air operations in the region in recent months, with over 592 insurgents reportedly eliminated across Borno State since the beginning of the year. The latest strike underscores Abuja’s continued push to weaken extremist groups that have waged a 16-year insurgency, displacing millions and creating a protracted humanitarian crisis.

Military officials emphasized that the operation was carefully planned to avoid civilian casualties, relying on intelligence gathered through ongoing surveillance and coordination with ground forces.

Despite repeated offensives, Boko Haram and ISWAP remain active in parts of the northeast and across border areas, maintaining the capacity to launch sporadic attacks on security forces and civilians. The government has vowed to sustain pressure on the groups through combined air and ground operations while also working with regional partners to prevent cross-border insurgent movements.

Security analysts caution that while such airstrikes degrade militant capabilities, long-term stability will depend on addressing the humanitarian fallout and providing support to displaced communities still living in precarious conditions.