Nigerian Air Strikes Eliminate 35 Jihadists Amid Ongoing Security Crisis

In response to rising threats in the region, Nigeria's military conducted air strikes that killed 35 jihadists near the northeastern border with Cameroon. Despite these efforts, the country faces a relentless struggle against jihadist groups and widespread insecurity, prompting calls for a dedicated task force to address the violence.

Nigeria's military has reported the death of 35 jihadists following a series of air strikes conducted near the northeastern border with Cameroon. The strikes, aimed at thwarting impending attacks on ground troops, were part of ongoing military efforts to control the violence that has plagued the nation for over a decade. This persistent unrest involves jihadist factions, violent criminal gangs, and widespread kidnappings for ransom.

Recently, a coalition of notable Nigerians—including former ministers, business leaders, and civil society advocates—expressed deep concern regarding the "war-time levels of slaughter" occurring in some regions while Nigeria is officially deemed at peace. They cited a distressing report from Amnesty International, which declared that over 10,217 individuals had died since President Bola Tinubu's administration began two years ago.

The coalition is advocating for the establishment of a Presidential Task Force with broad powers to confront the many ongoing conflicts, including the resurgence of Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). According to the military, nearly 600 militants have been reported killed over the past eight months in the northeast, although these figures lack independent verification.

The Nigerian Air Force has committed to continuing air support for ground operations targeting jihadist strongholds in the northeastern region. The United Nations has documented that more than 35,000 lives have been lost, with around two million people displaced as a result of the ongoing violence.

Recent findings from the Institute for Security Studies indicate that at least 15 jihadist attacks have occurred this year alone in border areas with Cameroon and Niger. These militants have started employing modified commercial drones for assaults on military bases, complicating the reinforcement logistics for the Nigerian Army.

Earlier this month, the US State Department sanctioned the sale of arms valued at $346 million to Nigeria, indicating external support for the nation's fight against escalating jihadist activity in the region.