ABUJA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- About nine suspected terrorists, including a key commander, were killed and several others wounded after a Nigerian military airstrike targeted a camp of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the northeastern state of Borno, the Nigerian Air Force said Monday.
In a statement, Nigerian Air Force spokesman Ehimen Ejodame said the operation was carried out Saturday in the Sambisa Forest area following credible intelligence about terrorist movements. The area is known to host one of the largest terrorist camps in Nigeria, he said.
"Following identification and confirmation of the target, the Nigerian Air Force aircraft conducted a precision engagement on the location," the statement said.
A subsequent battle damage assessment showed that the compound was heavily hit, with nine terrorists confirmed killed, including Abu Khalid Muhajir, identified by the military as "a prominent ISWAP commander in charge of providing special security escorts for senior members of the group," it added.
According to the military, the death of Abu Khalid Muhajir dealt a major setback to ISWAP, given his reported knowledge of routes, terrain and tactical movements linking major terrorist enclaves within the Sambisa Forest and surrounding areas.
ISWAP has been collaborating with its sister group, Boko Haram, in an attempt to establish an Islamist state in northeastern Nigeria. The two groups have also extended their attacks to other countries in the Lake Chad Basin. ■