The Nigerian military says it has killed more than 50 Boko Haram militants following a series of drone attacks on military bases in the northeastern states of Borno and Yobe.
A military spokesperson said on Thursday that militants launched coordinated assaults on several bases, but a combination of ground and air operations allowed the army to counter the attackers. The spokesperson added that ground troops have been pursuing more than 70 wounded militants “in close coordination,” according to the Associated Press.
Boko Haram, a jihadist group seeking to impose radical Islamic law in Nigeria, has continued its insurgency despite military pressure. At least 60 people were killed last month by Boko Haram militants in a nighttime attack in a northeastern village.
The group began its armed campaign in 2009 and later split into two factions after the 2021 death of its leader, Abubakar Shekau. One of those factions, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), maintains ties to the Islamic State group and frequently targets Nigerian military positions.
Meanwhile, civilians in the region continue to live under the threat of violence. Many Nigerian farmers have been forced to rely on armed guards for protection from jihadist attacks. Agro Rangers, a special security unit created by the government, has provided protection for farmers against Boko Haram and ISWAP militants.
“There is fear — we fear for our souls,” said 50-year-old vegetable farmer Aisha Isa, speaking to the BBC. Isa fled her home 11 years ago and now lives in temporary housing near Maiduguri. Each morning, she is bused with other farmers to Dalwa village. She continues to grow beans and maize, as it is the only way to feed her family.
"We will take the risk and come even if the rangers are not coming,” Isa said.
Reports indicate that attacks targeting farmers have more than doubled since 2024, with widespread killings and kidnappings continuing across rural areas. The United Nations has warned that nearly four million people in Nigeria’s conflict zones now face food insecurity.
