In a significant escalation of counter-insurgency efforts, Nigerian military forces reported this week that they had killed at least 18 Islamist militants during coordinated operations across the volatile northeastern state of Borno. The action marks a renewed push to weaken armed groups that have terrorized the region for nearly two decades.
According to military spokesperson Sani Uba, the operations targeted militant enclaves in the Timbuktu axis and the Bulabulin forest, areas long considered strongholds for Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Eleven militants were neutralized in Bulabulin, with a further seven killed in the Timbuktu area.
This latest offensive is part of a broader military campaign launched to dismantle insurgent supply routes and entrenched positions. It follows a recent wave of attacks on Nigerian military bases that resulted in several soldier casualties, including senior officers.
The Nigerian Air Force played a central role in this week's operations, providing critical aerial surveillance and conducting precision strikes on suspected militant hideouts. Follow-up ground missions are continuing to track fighters believed to have fled into the surrounding forests.
For 17 years, northeastern Nigeria has been the epicenter of one of Africa's most protracted and deadly conflicts. Concentrated largely in Borno State, the insurgency has claimed thousands of lives and displaced an estimated two million residents, contributing to one of the continent's most severe ongoing humanitarian crises.
Despite repeated military campaigns, both Boko Haram and ISWAP have demonstrated persistent resilience, continuing to launch attacks on villages, security installations, and transport routes. The recent offensive underscores the complex and enduring challenge facing security forces in the region.
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Nigerian forces kill 18 militants in renewed offensive in Borno
cgtn.com
