Nigerian Military Strikes Target Jihadists as Conflict Escalates

Nigeria's military has conducted a series of air strikes that resulted in the death of 35 jihadists near its northeastern border with Cameroon. Despite these efforts, the country faces escalating violence from jihadist groups and widespread humanitarian issues, with calls for a dedicated Presidential Task Force to address the ongoing conflicts.

Nigeria's military announced the death of 35 jihadists following a series of targeted air strikes conducted near the country’s northeastern border with Cameroon. The operations, executed in four distinct areas, aimed to thwart planned assaults by jihadist factions on ground troops. This air assault is part of a broader struggle, as Nigeria has fought against jihadist insurgencies for over a decade, alongside violent criminal gangs, sectarian disputes, and rampant kidnappings for ransom.

In response to the growing violence, a coalition of influential Nigerians—including former government officials, business leaders, and civil society advocates—voiced their alarm over escalating conflicts that have led to "war-time levels of slaughter," despite the country’s official status of peace. According to a report from Amnesty International released in May, at least 10,217 lives have been lost since President Bola Tinubu took office two years ago.

There are longstanding calls for the establishment of a Presidential Task Force with extensive powers to mitigate the multifaceted conflicts, particularly in relation to the re-emerging militant Islamist factions like Boko Haram and the splinter group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Recent military reports claim nearly 600 militants have been killed in the region over the last eight months, although these figures lack independent verification.

The Nigerian Air Force affirmed its commitment to providing ongoing air support to ground troops engaged in dismantling jihadist bases in the northeast, while the United Nations notes that over 35,000 individuals have died and approximately two million have been displaced as a result of the conflict. The Institute for Security Studies highlighted that at least 15 jihadist attacks have occurred this year in Nigeria's southern border regions with Cameroon and Niger. Reports indicate that these jihadists are employing modified commercial drones to target military bases, complicating the military's efforts to reinforce its positions.

In a related move, the US State Department recently approved the sale of $346 million worth of arms to Nigeria, signaling an intent to bolster the country's military capabilities in its fight against ongoing insurgencies.