At least 76 hostages, including children, have been rescued after Nigeria's military conducted precision airstrikes targeting militants in the northwest region of the country, as reported by local authorities. The military operation took place in the early hours of Saturday, focusing on Pauwa Hill in the Kankara area of Katsina state. This air assault was part of a manhunt for a notorious kidnapper, according to Nasir Mu'azu, the state’s commissioner for internal security.
The rescued individuals included hostages who were taken during a recent attack on a mosque in Unguwan Mantau, which resulted in the deaths of at least 50 people. Although the military operation was successful in freeing many hostages, it was tragically noted that one child lost their life during the ordeal, Mu'azu stated.
In recent months, Nigeria has seen an increase in attacks in the northwest and north-central regions, where clashes often arise between farmers over limited land and water resources. A previous attack last month in north-central Nigeria led to the deaths of 150 people, highlighting the escalating violence and instability in these regions. The conflict has intensified in recent years, with authorities and analysts indicating that more herdsmen are acquiring sophisticated weapons, which has contributed to the rising death toll.
Mu'azu emphasized that the airstrikes are part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at dismantling criminal hideouts, weakening militants' networks, and ending the cycle of violence, kidnappings, and extortion that has plagued innocent citizens. The government is also contending with an ongoing insurgency in the northeast region of Nigeria, which has resulted in the deaths of approximately 35,000 civilians and displaced over 2 million people, according to United Nations estimates.
Coinciding with the rescue operation on Saturday, separate airstrikes in northwest Nigeria reportedly killed 35 militants in a targeted attack. Despite the efforts by the government under President Bola Tinubu to address the rise of jihadi attacks and militant violence, the militancy persists, creating a challenging security landscape for the nation.
