Nigeria’s military has reported the death of 70 Boko Haram militants in a series of operations conducted in the country’s northeastern Borno state. The operations, which took place from January 16 to 25, targeted insurgents in the Tumbuktu area.
Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defense Media Operations, confirmed the successful elimination of three senior Boko Haram leaders as part of the raid. However, the offensive came at a significant cost. Twenty-two Nigerian soldiers lost their lives, with several others suffering injuries during the combat.
Boko Haram, a militant group that has been waging an insurgency since the early 2000s, has led to widespread violence and destruction across Nigeria. The group, initially focused on anti-Western rhetoric, evolved into one of Africa’s most dangerous terrorist organizations. The insurgency has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, particularly in the northeast.
In recent years, Boko Haram’s activities have extended beyond Nigeria, with deadly attacks also targeting neighboring countries such as Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. Since 2015, the violence has caused over 2,000 deaths and triggered a regional crisis, as local populations flee the ongoing conflict.
The Nigerian military’s recent success marks a rare win in a long-running battle that continues to destabilize the region. However, despite the significant loss to Boko Haram’s ranks, experts caution that the group’s influence in the Lake Chad Basin remains strong, with military efforts ongoing to fully dismantle its operations.