NAF airstrike kills ISWAP security chief Jindullah, Shura council member Abul Kissa, others in Lake Chad
By Mohammed Ismail
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reportedly killed several senior commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), including Jindullah and Abul Kissa, in a precision airstrike on a terrorist hideout in the Lake Chad region.
The operation, conducted on October 19, 2026, also destroyed logistical equipment believed to be used by the insurgents to facilitate their movements and operational activities.
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The NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed the development in a statement on Tuesday, describing the strike as a significant operational success against terrorist networks operating in the North-East.
According to the statement, preliminary post-strike assessments indicated that several prominent ISWAP fighters had been neutralised, including individuals occupying strategic positions within the group’s security structure and leadership council.
Among those reportedly killed was Jindullah, identified as the group’s chief security guard and a close confidant of Abu Saleem, as well as Abul Kissa, a member of the ISWAP Shura Council.
The military said the airstrike also destroyed boat engines and motorcycles believed to be critical to the group’s logistics, mobility and operational coordination.
Ejodame said the operation reflected the Air Force’s continued deployment of intelligence-led precision strikes against terrorist enclaves concealed in the difficult terrain of the Lake Chad region.
He explained that eliminating key operatives and destroying logistical resources would undermine the insurgents’ ability to coordinate attacks and threaten vulnerable communities.
The NAF spokesperson added that the operation formed part of sustained efforts to degrade terrorist networks, disrupt their supply chains and improve security across Nigeria’s North-East.
Meanwhile, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, reaffirmed the Air Force’s determination to maintain pressure on terrorist groups through sustained air operations in support of broader military efforts to restore peace and stability.
Aneke also emphasised the importance of cooperation between the Nigerian Air Force, other military services and security agencies in consolidating operational gains and protecting communities exposed to insurgent attacks.
“The Nigerian Air Force remains committed to working closely with sister Services and other security agencies to consolidate operational gains, protect vulnerable communities and advance efforts towards lasting peace and security in the North-East,” the statement said.
The latest operation comes amid continuing military efforts to weaken ISWAP’s command structure and operational capabilities in the Lake Chad basin, a strategic area where insurgent groups have maintained a presence.
The NAF said the strike represented another step in its campaign against terrorist networks, although the reported casualties and the full extent of the damage to ISWAP’s operational capacity were based on preliminary post-strike assessments.
