ABUJA, Nigeria — In a significant military operation over the past week, Nigerian forces have reportedly killed 79 militants and suspected kidnappers, as announced by the army on Friday. This operation aims to address a long-standing insurgency led by Islamic militants in the northeast and counter various armed groups wreaking havoc in the northwest.

The ongoing violence in Nigeria has escalated concerns, with estimates indicating that around 35,000 civilians have lost their lives, and more than two million people have been displaced in the northeastern region, as per United Nations reports.

This nationwide military initiative has also led to the apprehension of 252 individuals and the rescue of 67 hostages held by the militants, according to military spokesperson Edward Buba.

In Nigeria’s northwest, kidnappings have become increasingly frequent, with numerous armed groups taking advantage of the region’s inadequate security to launch attacks on communities and major transportation routes. Victims are often released only after their families pay ransoms, which can amount to thousands of dollars.

The global focus on Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis intensified following the infamous abduction of 276 schoolgirls by Boko Haram extremists in Chibok, a town located in the northeastern Borno state, which serves as a hotspot for conflict between these armed groups and the military.

Among the detainees are 28 individuals suspected of involvement in crude oil theft, a significant issue in southern Nigeria—an oil-rich nation that is losing billions of dollars due to these illicit activities. This rampant theft has deeply affected the country’s economy and government revenues.

According to the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Nigeria experienced a staggering loss of over $46 billion from crude oil theft between 2009 and 2020.

Additionally, the military apprehended seven suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, a separatist group seeking the establishment of an independent Biafra state in southeastern Nigeria.

The movement for secession in southeastern Nigeria traces back to the 1960s when the Republic of Biafra fought for independence in a civil war that lasted from 1967 to 1970, resulting in approximately 1 million deaths, with many casualties attributed to famine.

One of the notable leaders of this separatist campaign, Simon Ekpa, was detained in Finland last November, facing accusations of inciting violence through social media platforms.