By Sherif Lawal
Fresh joint airstrikes by the United States and Nigerian military have targeted Islamic State fighters in Nigeria’s insurgency-hit northeast, underscoring renewed pressure on extremist groups operating around the Lake Chad Basin.
The US Africa Command confirmed that additional strikes were carried out on Sunday in coordination with Nigerian authorities, adding that no American or Nigerian personnel were harmed during the operation.
The latest offensive follows Saturday’s operation in Metele, Borno State, where security forces reportedly eliminated senior ISIS commander Abu-Bilal al-Minuki alongside several fighters.
For communities across northeastern Nigeria, the campaign signals another phase in a conflict that has displaced millions and destabilised livelihoods for more than a decade.
Nigerian military authorities insist intensified intelligence-sharing and precision operations are aimed at dismantling insurgent networks and preventing fresh attacks on civilian populations.
