The Nigerian military has reported the elimination of 140 suspected terrorists and armed kidnappers in recent operations targeting Boko Haram, the Daesh-linked Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and various criminal gangs. These operations, conducted last week, focused on regions that have become strongholds for insurgent activity.
At a briefing earlier this week, Edward Buba, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, shared updates on the recent operations. He confirmed that the operations aimed at disrupting these armed groups, which have repeatedly targeted villages, schools, and travelers, often seeking ransom payments.
In addition to the neutralized suspects, the military apprehended 135 more individuals and safely rescued 76 people who had been held captive for ransom.
Reports indicate that Nigeria has long grappled with violence from groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP, along with kidnappings perpetrated by various criminal organizations. While some states have introduced the death penalty as a deterrent, abductions remain prevalent across the country.