By Aina Shehu
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed the killing of more than 35 jihadist fighters in a series of precision airstrikes conducted near the Nigeria–Cameroon border.
The air raids, carried out on Saturday, targeted four separate terrorist assembly points following an attempted assault on Nigerian ground troops operating in the region. According to a statement from the NAF, the strikes were based on “multiple intelligence from several sources” and executed in successive waves, inflicting heavy casualties and disrupting militant operations.
“These coordinated airstrikes neutralised dozens of terrorists and significantly hampered their logistics,” the NAF said, adding that the mission also helped re-establish communication with embattled ground forces in the area.
Field reports confirmed that the situation on the ground had stabilised following the strikes, allowing troops to regain control and consolidate their positions.
“The operation has intensified efforts to dominate the battlefield and deny terrorists freedom of action,” the Air Force noted.
Security analysts say the operation reflects a shift in Nigeria’s counterinsurgency strategy, where air power plays a more prominent role in suppressing insurgent movements across challenging border terrains with Cameroon, Chad, and Niger—areas long exploited by militant groups for mobility and supply routes.
Nigeria has been fighting a prolonged jihadist insurgency since 2009, led by Boko Haram and its more recent offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Despite gains made in previous years, both groups continue to stage deadly ambushes, raids, and bombings in the country’s northeast.
The NAF reiterated its commitment to supporting ground troops with air cover while systematically targeting terrorist hideouts and logistics hubs in the border regions.