Nigerian armed forces reported the elimination of 76 Islamic militants in the northeastern region of the country during recent operations across various locations in Borno state. The military detailed this achievement on Thursday, stating that the operations were carried out between January 7 and January 13. Edward Buba, a spokesperson for the Nigerian army, made the announcement during a press briefing in the capital city, Abuja. He further revealed that 72 individuals linked to the militants were apprehended and eight hostages taken captive by the extremists were rescued during these missions.
While Buba did not disclose specific information about the militants’ affiliations, it is known that Borno state has been frequently targeted by the Boko Haram group and its faction associated with the Islamic State. Additionally, the military spokesperson did not confirm whether there were any casualties among Nigerian soldiers during these operations.
This military announcement comes shortly after an incident in a different part of Borno state, where suspected Boko Haram members killed at least 40 farmers. Boko Haram, which began its insurgency in 2009, has been aggressively opposing Western education and attempting to impose their extreme interpretation of Islamic law. This prolonged conflict is now the longest-running insurgency in Africa, and its ramifications have affected neighboring countries.
According to United Nations estimates, approximately 35,000 civilians have lost their lives due to the violence, and more than 2 million people have been displaced in northeastern Nigeria. The 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok by Boko Haram brought significant international attention to the plight of those affected by the conflict.
In addition to the operations in the northeast, the Nigerian military has reported other successes in the northwest, where they killed 64 militants, apprehended 69 suspects, and rescued 62 hostages. The rise of kidnappings in northeastern Nigeria has become a pervasive issue, as numerous armed groups take advantage of the region’s precarious security situation to launch assaults on communities and along key transport routes. Many victims are often released only after hefty ransom payments, sometimes amounting to thousands of dollars.
