Terrorists near the Cameroon border eliminated by Nigerian forces, reports claim

The US embassy in Nigeria has been actively engaged in discussions with the Nigerian government, focusing on accountability in cases of civilian harm and human rights violations, following a recent attack in the country's northeastern region.

According to a spokesperson for the US embassy, who spoke to the AFP news agency, the discussions revolved around a deal between the Nigerian government and the US State Department. The embassy has been pressing for transparency in investigations into civilian casualty incidents and human rights violations.

The attack, which took place in a border area with Cameroon, targeted more than 35 jihadis, as reported by the Nigerian military. The military claimed that the attack was on four identified assembly areas of Islamist militants, with over 592 armed insurgents reportedly killed this year, marking an intensification from 2024.

However, reports of the attack could not be independently verified. The ground troops in the area reported that the situation had been stabilized after the attack.

The insurgency in Nigeria, primarily by Boko Haram and ISWAP, has resulted in the deaths of more than 40,000 people since it began. Additionally, nearly 2 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to the violence. The conflict has been particularly intense in northeastern Nigeria, along the borders with Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, where there has been an uptick in attacks.

In a bid to disrupt terrorist logistics and movement corridors along the north east border regions, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) carried out an air strike on Saturday. The NAF aims to support ground forces in the region as they battle the insurgency.

Last week, Nigeria agreed to purchase $346 million in weapons from the US, including bombs, rockets, and munitions, subject to Congress approval. This move is aimed at strengthening Nigeria's capacity to combat the insurgency.

The insurgency in Nigeria reached a peak around 2015 but has been on the rise again since the beginning of the year. The Nigerian government has faced criticism for failing to bring the insurgency and banditry problems under control. In addition to jihadi attacks, armed "bandit" gangs are causing violence in the northwest of Nigeria.

The recent attack and the subsequent discussions between the US and Nigerian governments underscore the ongoing efforts to combat the insurgency in Nigeria. The US embassy in Nigeria remains committed to supporting the Nigerian government in protecting civilians from harm and ensuring transparency in investigations.

This article was edited by Karl Sexton. It's important to note that the Israeli army confirmed an airstrike, claiming that Anas al-Sharif, a well-known Palestinian journalist, was the head of a Hamas cell responsible for rocket attacks on Israel, as stated by army spokesman Avichai Adraee. However, this incident is not directly related to the insurgency in Nigeria and has not been further discussed in this article.