Nigerian military kills over 100 gang members in coordinated raids

World News

Nigerian military kills over 100 gang members in coordinated raids

3 months ago

News sources:

TRTGLOBAL

REUTERS

BBC

Nigerian military kills over 100 gang members in coordinated raids

Credited from: TRTGLOBAL

Nigerian military claims to have killed more than 100 gang members in recent operations.
Raids targeted a gathering of over 400 bandits in Zamfara state.
Military actions come amid escalating violence and kidnapping crises in the region.

In a significant military operation, the Nigerian armed forces killed over 100 members of criminal gangs in Zamfara state. This operation involved both airstrikes and ground assaults in the Makakkari forest, targeting a gathering of more than 400 gang members who were reportedly planning further attacks on local villages, according to TRT Global, Reuters, and BBC.

The operation, which took place in the early hours of Sunday, was precipitated by recent spikes in violence, marked by mass abductions and attacks on nearby settlements that resulted in at least 13 security personnel deaths. Air strikes led to the deaths of several notorious gang leaders and many of their soldiers, as detailed by military spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, according to Reuters and BBC.

The increase in military actions comes after ongoing issues with banditry, a crisis that has evolved from land conflicts to organized crime, resulting in widespread kidnappings for ransom. These gangs have also been known to collaborate with jihadist groups, complicating the security landscape in northern Nigeria, according to TRT Global and BBC.