Nigerian Forces Rescue 76 Hostages, Including Children, in Precision Airstrikes
In a daring operation, Nigerian forces have successfully freed 76 hostages, including children, after launching precision airstrikes on militant hideouts in the country’s northwest. The strikes specifically targeted Pauwa Hill in the Kankara area of Katsina state, as part of an operation to capture a notorious kidnapper, revealed Nasir Mu’azu, Katsina’s commissioner for internal security.
The hostages, some of whom were abducted during last week’s tragic mosque attack in Unguwan Mantau where at least 50 worshippers lost their lives, were rescued in the operation. Despite the unfortunate loss of one child during the ordeal, Mu’azu stressed that the overarching goal of the operation is to dismantle armed groups in the region and put an end to the cycle of violence that has plagued innocent citizens.
The surge in deadly attacks in the northwest and north-central regions of Nigeria in recent months has been attributed to conflicts between farmers and herders over land and water access. Last month alone, over 150 people were killed in a single attack in north-central Nigeria, underscoring the severity of the security crisis.
With militants increasingly equipped with sophisticated weapons, the security situation in Nigeria has become even more precarious. The recent offensive not only resulted in the successful rescue of hostages but also led to the elimination of 35 militants in separate strikes in the northwest.
Meanwhile, Nigeria continues to grapple with a 15-year insurgency in the northeast that has claimed the lives of more than 35,000 civilians and displaced over 2 million people, according to the United Nations. Despite President Bola Tinubu’s government’s efforts to restore order, both banditry and jihadi violence persist across the country.
— Agencies
