Nigeria's military has confirmed the elimination of 35 jihadists in a series of air strikes conducted near its northeastern border with Cameroon. This military action was launched to thwart an impending attack on ground forces, according to a military statement. For more than a decade, Nigeria has faced relentless battles against various jihadist factions, violent criminal groups, communal strife, and a severe kidnapping epidemic.
On Saturday, a coalition of influential Nigerians—including former government officials, business leaders, and civil society figures—expressed grave concerns over the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria. They highlighted that certain regions are experiencing "war-time levels of slaughter," despite the official stance of peace. Their alarm was amplified by a report from Amnesty International, indicating that over 10,217 people have lost their lives since President Bola Tinubu's administration began two years ago. These figures prompted the coalition to advocate for the establishment of a Presidential Task Force equipped with extensive powers aimed at ending the persistent conflicts, particularly the resurgence of Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), in the northeast.
The army previously reported the neutralization of nearly 600 militants over eight months in the region, though these claims have not been independently verified. The Nigerian Air Force has pledged to continue providing air support to ground troops working to dismantle jihadist hideouts in northeastern Nigeria. The ongoing conflict, as detailed by the United Nations, has resulted in more than 35,000 deaths and displaced approximately two million individuals.
The Institute for Security Studies has documented at least 15 jihadist attacks in border regions with Cameroon and Niger this year. Reports indicate that these jihadists are utilizing modified commercial drones to conduct strikes on military bases, complicating the military's capability to deploy reinforcements effectively. Earlier in the month, the United States State Department sanctioned a $346 million arms sale to Nigeria to bolster its defense against these ongoing threats.
