Nigerian troops killed eight Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters, among them a senior field commander, during an ambush along a key supply route in Borno state, the military said on Tuesday.
The clash happened early Monday near Garin Giwa on the Baga–Cross Kauwa road, a corridor frequently hit by insurgents seeking to disrupt operations. ISWAP fighters tried to spring an ambush on a patrol but were repelled, the army said.
Those killed included Abu Aisha, identified as the Qaid of Tumbun Mota, and two mid-level “Munzir” commanders, while others fled with gunshot wounds, according to the statement.
Boko Haram and ISWAP have waged a years-long insurgency in northeast Nigeria, causing thousands of deaths, mass displacement and a deepening humanitarian crisis. The military’s account could not be independently verified.