LAGOS, Nigeria — The Nigerian army stated Monday {that a} new operation with U.S. forces has killed greater than 20 Islamic State group militants in northeastern Borno state.
The operation in Metele adopted the weekend killing of Abu Bakr al-Mainuki, deputy chief of the group’s native West African “province,” marking a brand new improvement within the army cooperation. It was the primary profitable focusing on of a senior militant chief by Nigeria’s safety forces after effectively over a decade of insurgency by armed teams together with Boko Haram.
The U.S. army stated no U.S. or Nigerian forces had been harmed in Sunday’s strikes locally close to the borders with each Niger and Chad.
Nigerian army spokesperson Samaila Uba stated efforts “in shut coordination” with the U.S. army had been ongoing to “disrupt terrorist networks, take away them from the battlefield and deny the terrorists any protected haven inside Nigeria.”
The U.S. and Nigeria entered a army cooperation final 12 months following a diplomatic row after U.S. officers asserted {that a} “Christian genocide” was occurring within the nation that is largely divided between Christians within the south and Muslims within the north. Nigeria’s authorities rejected the accusation, and analysts stated it simplifies an advanced state of affairs wherein persons are usually focused no matter their religion.
In February, the U.S. despatched troops to Nigeria in what was deemed a principally advisory and coaching function, however analysts say the weekend operation confirmed the cooperation has superior to lively U.S. involvement.
Nigeria’s army has lengthy used airstrikes in opposition to militants within the escalating safety disaster, generally hitting civilian populations with devastating penalties. Earlier this month, Amnesty Worldwide accused the army of killing 100 civilians at a market whereas focusing on militants. The army denied it.
