Nigerian troops have released at least 76 hostages, including children, after precision airstrikes in the northwest targeted extremists
Abuja, Nigeria – Local authorities said at least 76 hostages have been released after Nigerian military target extremists.
The airstrikes launched early on Saturday at Target around Powahir in Kachina's Kankara region, Nasir Moorz, the state's internal security committee, said in a statement. The air attack was launched in Manhunt for the infamous lure.
The rescued hostages included some of those lured during the attack on the non-Gwan Mantau mosque, leading to the deaths of at least 50 people, the committee member said.
“However, it was unfortunately known that one child had lost his life tragically during the ordeal,” Moorez said.
Over the past few months, attacks on communities in the northwest and northwest regions of Africa's most populous countries have been on the rise, with farmers often conflicting with limited access to land and water. The attack last month killed 150 people in northern Nigeria.
The conflict has become more deadly in recent years, with authorities and analysts warning that more herdsmen are occupying more refined weapons.
The commissioner said the Air Force attack was “part of a broader strategy to dismantle detectives' hideouts, weaken networks, and end the cycle of killing, lure and terror that bothered innocent citizens.”
According to the United Nations, the West African country also deals with rebellions in the northeastern region, killing around 35,000 civilians and displaced over 2 million people.
Also, on Saturday, separate airstrikes in northwestern Nigeria killed 35 militants in the targeted attack.
Extremists continue despite President Bora Tinubu's government's efforts to curb Jihadi's attacks.