A Nigerian Air Force air strike in the Lake Chad region has reportedly killed a member of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) Shura Council and a senior security aide linked to one of the group’s figures, in an operation aimed at weakening the insurgents’ leadership and disrupting their supply network.

The Nigerian Air Force said preliminary assessments identified the deceased as Jindullah, described as chief security guard and confidant of ISWAP figure Abu Saleem, and Abul Kissa, a member of the group’s Shura Council.

The operation was conducted under Operation Hadin Kai, the military campaign against insurgency in the North-East, following the identification of a suspected terrorist hideout in the Lake Chad area.

NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed the development in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.

Beyond the reported casualties, the strike also destroyed boat engines and motorcycles allegedly used by the insurgents for transportation and operational activities.

The destruction of the equipment is expected to affect the group’s mobility and logistics, particularly in an area where waterways and motorcycles can facilitate movement across difficult terrain.

The Air Force said the operation was part of sustained efforts to weaken ISWAP’s operational capacity by targeting its leadership and the resources that support its activities.

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, reaffirmed the service’s commitment to continuing air operations against terrorist groups in support of broader military efforts to restore peace and stability.

The military did not provide further details on the full extent of the damage or independently verified casualty figures in the statement.

The reported deaths of the two figures, if confirmed, could represent a setback for ISWAP’s security structure and decision-making network as military operations continue in the Lake Chad region.