The Nigeria Air Force says that it has killed more than 35 jihadists during raids on militant fighters that had gathered near the Nigeria–Cameroon border.
The air strike was the latest by the Nigerian military, which is battling a resurgence of attacks in Nigeria’s embattled northwestern geo-political zone.
“Acting on multiple intelligence from several sources, the Air Component executed precision strikes in successive passes, engaging the terrorists and neutralising more than 35 fighters at four identified assembly areas,” the statement by the Nigerian Air Force said.
It re-established communication with the ground troops that had been threatened, and they confirmed that the “situation around their location had been stabilised,” the statement added.
According to the statement, the strike had “intensified efforts” to dominate the battles field and “deny terrorists freedom of action,”
While Nigeria’s 16-year-old insurgency has slowed since violence peaked around 2015, attacks have picked up since the beginning of the year.
The Air Force said the latest operation demonstrated its commitment to providing close air support to ground forces, “while also disrupting terrorist logistics and movement corridors along the north east border regions”.
GIK/APA