Nigerian Air Force Kills 35 Terrorists in Strikes Near Cameroon Border

• Aug 24, 2025

The Nigerian Air Force says it has killed at least 35 terrorists in a series of air strikes conducted near the border with Cameroon. The operation was launched after intelligence reports indicated that the fighters were preparing to launch an attack on ground troops in the area.

According to Air Force spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the strikes targeted four assembly points used by the insurgents. In a statement released on Saturday, he confirmed that the aerial bombardment successfully neutralized the threat and restored security in the affected zone. Communication with troops on the ground was reestablished after the operation, and they confirmed that the area had been secured.

The strikes mark another step in Nigeria’s ongoing counter-terrorism campaign, particularly in the northeast, where militant groups linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have operated for more than a decade. These groups have been responsible for thousands of deaths, mass abductions, and displacement of communities across Nigeria and neighboring countries.

Ejodame emphasized that the operation was a preventive measure designed to protect ground troops and prevent the militants from carrying out planned attacks. He noted that aerial surveillance and intelligence gathering continue to play a critical role in disrupting terrorist activities before they can escalate into large-scale assaults.

Nigeria has intensified the use of air power in recent years as part of its broader military strategy to weaken insurgent networks entrenched in remote border regions. The proximity of these groups to Cameroon and other neighboring countries has also raised concerns about the cross-border spread of terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin.

The latest success comes amid growing calls for stronger regional cooperation to combat terrorism in West Africa. Security analysts have consistently stressed that while air strikes can deal significant blows to militant groups, sustained collaboration between Nigeria and its neighbors is essential to prevent fighters from regrouping and shifting across porous borders.

The Nigerian Air Force reiterated its commitment to supporting ground forces and maintaining pressure on insurgents, promising continued vigilance in protecting both troops and civilians in vulnerable areas.