Nigerian Military Conducts Dual Air Strikes Against Militants and Bandits

Nigerian Military Conducts Dual Air Strikes Against Militants and Bandits
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The Nigerian military has launched two separate precision airstrike operations in the country’s northwest and northeast regions, resulting in the rescue of 76 kidnapped victims and the killing of at least 35 suspected jihadists, according to ABC News and Arab News.

In the northwest, the Nigerian Air Force rescued 76 kidnap victims, including women and children, after targeting a bandit stronghold at Pauwa Hill in Katsina State. The operation was part of a manhunt for a gang leader named Babaro, who is believed to be linked to a recent mosque attack. One child reportedly died during the rescue.

In the northeast, precision airstrikes were carried out on four targets in the Kumshe area of Borno State, near the border with Cameroon. These strikes killed at least 35 suspected jihadists from groups like Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). According to the Nigerian Air Force spokesperson, Ehimen Ejodame, the militants had gathered in the area following attempts to attack ground troops.

These two operations highlight Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with both insurgent groups in the northeast and armed criminal gangs in the northwest and north-central regions, despite the government’s efforts to curb the violence. The conflict in the northeast alone has led to the deaths of around 35,000 civilians and the displacement of more than 2 million people, according to the United Nations.