The Nigerian military says it has killed more than 40 Boko Haram fighters and destroyed at least 10 canoes during a two-day aerial operation in Borno State, in the country’s northeast.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the airstrikes were carried out on Thursday and Friday, targeting insurgent positions in the Musarram and Azir communities. According to the military, several other militants were injured during the operation.
Ejodame noted that the strikes reflect renewed military pressure on armed groups that continue to exploit the region’s difficult terrain to launch attacks on security forces and nearby communities.
The operation comes amid increased international scrutiny of Nigeria’s counterinsurgency efforts. The administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump had previously raised concerns over allegations of targeted violence against Christian communities, particularly in northern Nigeria.
In a related development last year, the United States carried out airstrikes against Islamic State affiliates operating in northwest Nigeria. U.S. authorities said the strikes were conducted with the approval and coordination of the Nigerian government and resulted in the deaths of several Islamic State fighters.
Nigeria has endured sustained violence from Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other extremist groups since 2009. The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions across Nigeria and neighbouring countries, including Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.
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