Nigerian Air Strikes Kill Fighters and Free Hostages
Nigeria’s military has carried out a series of air strikes in the country’s north-east and north-west, killing dozens of fighters and rescuing hostages held by armed groups.
In Borno State, near the border with Cameroon, the Nigerian Air Force claimed that at least 35 fighters were killed in strikes against four locations in the Kumshe area on Saturday, 23 August. A spokesperson confirmed that ground troops restored order in the region after the operation.
The military also reported success in Katsina State, where precision strikes freed 76 hostages, including children, who had been abducted in recent attacks. Officials said one child died during the rescue.
Katsina’s Commissioner for Internal Security, Nasir Mu’azu, described the assault as part of efforts to “dismantle criminal hideouts, weaken their networks and put an end to the cycle of killings, kidnappings, and extortion.”
The operations come amid a resurgence of violence by Boko Haram, rival splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province, and criminal gangs. The United Nations estimates more than 35 000 people have been killed and over two million displaced since the conflict began 16 years ago.
Earlier this month, the United States of America approved a $346-million arms sale to bolster Nigeria’s fight against insurgents.
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