The United States Africa Command and Nigeria’s military have killed more than 200 terrorists in coordinated operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province fighters in northeastern Nigeria, officials said Wednesday.
AFRICOM said the operations were carried out in coordination with Nigerian forces and targeted ISIS-linked fighters in the region.
“AFRICOM, in continued coordination with Nigeria, conducted operations against ISIS fighters in NE Nigeria,” the command said in a post on X. “The targeted operations eliminated more than 200 terrorists, including Abu-Bilal al-Minuki. No U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed.”
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters said the joint campaign had dealt a major blow to militant networks operating in the northeast. Spokesperson Samaila Mohammed Uba said the strikes targeted terrorist hideouts, logistics bases and operational infrastructure.
Uba confirmed that more than 200 terrorists were killed, adding that the partnership with AFRICOM had strengthened Nigeria’s intelligence-led operations, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
Northeastern Nigeria has been the centre of a long-running insurgency led by Boko Haram and its splinter faction ISWAP. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, particularly across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
The latest operations come as Nigerian forces continue efforts to weaken armed groups that have used remote areas of the northeast as bases for attacks on civilians, security forces and local communities.