The Nigerian military has reported killing 35 jihadists in a series of air strikes conducted near the country’s northeastern border with Cameroon, according to an official statement.
The military stated that the strikes were executed in four distinct areas to preempt an attempted assault by the jihadists on ground troops.
Nigeria has been engaged in a protracted battle against jihadist groups for over a decade, while also contending with violent criminal organizations, sectarian strife, and a surge in kidnapping for ransom.
On Saturday, a collective of prominent Nigerian figures, including former government ministers, business leaders, and civil society activists, issued a statement expressing concern that certain regions of Nigeria are experiencing “war-time levels of slaughter,” despite the nation officially being at peace.
The group referenced a report published in May by Amnesty International, which indicated that at least 10,217 individuals have been killed since President Bola Tinubu assumed office two years prior.
The statement called for the establishment of a Presidential Task Force with extensive powers to resolve the numerous conflicts plaguing the nation, including the resurgence of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap) in the northeast.
Last week, the army reported the elimination of nearly 600 militants over an eight-month period in the region, though independent verification of this claim is currently unavailable.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has affirmed its commitment to providing continuous air support to ground troops engaged in dismantling jihadist strongholds in the northeast.
According to United Nations estimates, the conflict has resulted in over 35,000 fatalities and the displacement of two million people.
Earlier this month, the U.S. State Department approved a $346 million arms sale to Nigeria, aimed at bolstering the country’s efforts to quell ongoing unrest.
The Institute for Security Studies think-tank has reported at least 15 jihadist attacks recorded this year alone in areas adjacent to Nigeria’s borders with Cameroon and Niger.
The report also noted that jihadists are employing modified commercial drones to target army bases, thereby impeding the military’s ability to deploy reinforcements.
The military has also stated that it conducted air strikes against “bandits,” a term used to refer to criminal gangs operating in Nigeria, specifically in northwestern Katsina state.
According to the military, the operation resulted in the rescue of 76 kidnapping victims, including women and children.
The Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security, Nasir Mua’zu, confirmed that a child died during the rescue operation.
The operation was launched in response to an attack in the village of Unguwan Mantau in Katsina last week, during which gunmen opened fire on worshippers in a mosque and residents in nearby homes.
The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 50 people and the abduction of approximately 60 others, some of whom were rescued during the military operation, officials stated.
Katsina and neighboring Zamfara state have been the hardest hit by bandit activity in the northwest, accounting for the highest number of deaths and displacements.
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
There was “sheer horror” when survivors realised that the girls aged nine, 11 and 17 had died, a rescuer says.
Thousands says they have suffered health problems or lost property after fire caused by British military.
A selection of the week’s best photos from across the African continent and beyond.
Guide dog Achi was rescued from rough seas but was to be put down as he was in the country illegally.
Nine bodies have been found in fresh graves near the site of the “Shakahola Forest Massacre”.