Nigeria says army has killed 300 bandits in north-western state of Zamfara
Nigerian government forces killed over 300 bandits during a two-day operation in the Zamfara state. The region has been plagued by criminal gangs and jihadist groups involved in kidnapping and cattle rustling.
Why it matters
The operation represents a significant escalation in the Nigerian government's efforts to combat long-standing security crises and insurgency in the north.
Nigerian troops on patrol in the north-eastern state on Borno./Getty Images Nigerian troops on patrol in the north-eastern state on Borno./Getty Images Nigeria Nigeria says army has killed 300 bandits in north-western state of Zamfara Gangs made up of cattle rustlers and jihadists have long terrorised communities in northern and central Nigeria
Prefer the Guardian on Google Nigerian soldiers killed more than 300 members of kidnapping and cattle bandit gangs in the north-western state of Zamfara this week, according to a government official.
Nigerian government troops targeted the gangs in Gummi district in a two-day operation that “led to the elimination of more than 300 terrorists,” Zamfara’s information commissioner, Mahmud Muhammad Dantawasa, said in a statement.
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