Nigerian Military Strikes Eliminate 35 Jihadists Amid Ongoing Conflict

Tue Oct 21 2025 03:24:05 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Recent air strikes by Nigeria's military have successfully targeted jihadist groups, but escalating violence raises serious concerns about national security.

The Nigerian military has reported a significant success in its ongoing battle against jihadist groups, claiming the deaths of 35 militants during air strikes near the Cameroonian border. Amid rising violence and advocacy for a more robust approach to security, the struggle against jihadist insurgency continues.

Nigeria's military has announced the elimination of 35 jihadists following a series of air strikes around its northeastern border with Cameroon. These operations were aimed at thwarting an imminent attack on ground troops, as stated by the military authorities. Nigeria continues to face a multitude of security challenges including jihadist activities, violent criminal gangs, and rampant kidnappings — all of which have plagued the nation for over a decade.

A coalition of prominent Nigerians, including former government officials and civil society leaders, recently voiced concerns over the alarming levels of violence in the country, likening the situation to "war-time levels of slaughter," despite Nigeria’s official peace status. Their statement referenced a May report by Amnesty International, which indicated that over 10,000 lives have been lost since President Bola Tinubu's administration began two years ago.

The group is advocating for the establishment of a Presidential Task Force with extensive powers aimed at addressing multiple conflicts, particularly the resurgence of Boko Haram and the splinter group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the northeast. The military claimed last week that nearly 600 militants have been killed over the past eight months, although independent verification of these figures remains unavailable.

The Nigerian Air Force has committed to continue providing air support to ground troops engaged in dismantling jihadist strongholds in the region. According to the United Nations, more than 35,000 individuals have died, and approximately two million have been displaced due to ongoing conflict. Reports indicate that 15 jihadist attacks have already been recorded this year in areas bordering Cameroon and Niger, with jihadists reportedly using modified commercial drones to target military installations, complicating the deployment of reinforcements.

In response to the escalating situation, earlier this month, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of $346 million worth of weapons to Nigeria, highlighting the international stakes involved in the fight against terrorism in the region.