Nigeria’s military has successfully conducted air strikes that resulted in the deaths of 35 jihadists near its north-eastern border with Cameroon. According to a military statement, these operations targeted four specific areas to thwart an imminent attack on ground troops.
The ongoing conflict in Nigeria, which has persisted for over a decade, involves various jihadist groups, violent criminal gangs, and rampant sectarian violence. Additionally, widespread kidnappings for ransom have become alarmingly common.
On Saturday, a collective of prominent Nigerians—including former government ministers, business leaders, and civil society activists—expressed their concerns regarding the intensifying violence in parts of the country. They noted that certain regions are experiencing “war-time levels of slaughter,” despite Nigeria being officially at peace. This statement referenced a report from Amnesty International, which indicated that at least 10,217 people have been killed since President Bola Tinubu took office two years ago.
The group called for the establishment of a Presidential Task Force endowed with extensive powers to address the multiple conflicts afflicting the nation, particularly the resurgence of the militant Islamist group Boko Haram in the north-east.
In recent reports, the Nigerian army claimed to have eliminated nearly 600 militants in the region over the past eight months. However, these figures have not been independently verified. The Nigerian Air Force has committed to continuing its air support for ground troops actively dismantling jihadist bases in the north-east.
As the military intensifies its operations, the humanitarian implications of the ongoing conflict remain a pressing concern, with many civilians caught in the crossfire. International human rights organizations are closely monitoring the situation as Nigeria grapples with its complex security challenges.
For further updates on the conflict and its implications, interested readers can explore more on various news platforms that cover African affairs.