Nigerian Air Force airstrikes killed more than 40 suspected militants and destroyed about 10 canoes in Borno State, the military said late Sunday, as security forces intensified operations around Lake Chad.
The strikes targeted fighters believed to be preparing coordinated attacks on nearby communities, underscoring renewed military pressure on armed groups operating in northeastern Nigeria.
Air force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame said the operations took place on January 15 and 16 in the Musarram and Azir communities of Borno State, following intelligence that militants were assembling for assaults on civilian and military targets.
According to Ejodame, surveillance showed fighters gathering in canoes in Musarram, apparently preparing to attack Baga town and surrounding fishing areas along Lake Chad. Nigerian Air Force aircraft carried out three bombing runs that scattered the group.
“The fleeing gunmen were tracked into nearby trees and neutralised,” Ejodame said in a statement, adding that the strikes successfully disrupted the planned assault.
Local officials and ground troops confirmed that the operation prevented the attack from taking place, the military said.
A day later, air force aircraft struck militants in Azir who were regrouping after an earlier clash with Nigerian troops. Ejodame said close air support was deployed after fighters retreated into wooded areas.
Several militants were killed in the follow up strikes, helping restore calm to the area, according to the statement.
Borno State has long been the center of Nigeria’s 17 year Islamist insurgency, led primarily by Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province. Attacks on military convoys and civilian communities have increased in recent months, according to security reports cited by Reuters.
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The region’s rugged terrain and access to waterways around Lake Chad have allowed armed groups to move quickly and launch raids across remote border areas.
The Nigerian military has pledged to sustain air and ground operations aimed at disrupting militant supply routes and preventing attacks on civilian populations.
While the air force says the latest strikes weakened insurgent capabilities in the area, security analysts note that armed groups remain active across parts of northeastern Nigeria, making continued pressure critical in the weeks ahead.