Nigeria’s military announced on Thursday that dozens of armed fighters were killed in coordinated security operations across the country’s restive northwest and northeast regions.

In Katsina state, 30 armed men were killed following attacks on several villages by what officials described as “criminal gangs.” The state's commissioner for internal affairs, Nasir Mua’zu, said the raids prompted a joint police and military counter-offensive. The gunmen were reportedly struck by air power as they attempted to flee. A civilian, two soldiers, and three police officers were also killed in the clashes.

Boko Haram, ISWAP Fighters Targeted In Northeast

Separately, the Nigerian Army reported that 24 insurgents were neutralized between July 4 and 9 in Borno State during Operation Hadin Kai. The operations targeted fighters from Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), with the support of close air support units.

Army spokesman Reuben Kovangiya said the actions “underscore the determination” of the military to create a safe environment for civilians and allow for economic recovery in the northeast.

The region has been a conflict hotspot for over a decade. According to the UN, the Boko Haram insurgency has killed more than 35,000 people and displaced over two million since 2009.

Banditry And Kidnappings Persist In Northwest

In the northwest, gangs operating from forested areas in Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger states continue to raid villages, loot homes, and kidnap civilians. Despite peace pacts with some armed groups, violent attacks remain common.

Authorities say the latest offensives are part of broader efforts to secure rural communities ahead of the planting season and to reduce reliance on peace deals that have often collapsed.