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News24
7 days ago
- Politics
- News24
Nigeria: Military says dozens of gang members killed
The military in Nigeria said it killed more than 100 armed gang members, taking them out in a joint air and ground operation in the northwestern state of Zamfara. The operation took place 'in the early hours' of Sunday in the Bukkuyum local government area, the military said. The move came after more than 400 gang members were seen preparing to attack a village. Armed groups - which are often called 'bandits' by locals - have been terrorising communities across the northwest and central Nigeria. What else do we know about the military operation? Nigerian Air Force spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said that the airstrike killed 'several notorious kingpins and scores of their foot soldiers'. He added that ground forces intercepted and killed others trying to flee the area in Makakkari Forest, where the operation took place. Jane Hahn/For The Washington Post via Getty Images The military's attack 'may have occurred in response to consecutive banditry, especially kidnapping, in the state in the previous month', the French AFP news agency reported, citing a conflict monitoring report produced by the United Nations on the operation. Bandits had been planning an attack on a farming village when the military operation started, the report added. Who are the so-called 'bandits'? Apart from charging farmers and local miners taxes, the 'bandits' are also known for kidnapping people and holding them hostage for months, often demanding ransom for their release. The groups are often motivated by money, but they have lately been increasingly cooperating with jihadist groups in the area. The Nigerian government has repeatedly launched military operations against such groups, including an operation in July, in which at least 95 gang members were killed in the northwestern state of Niger. Military operations have nevertheless yet to succeed at quelling the violence, which has also exacerbated Nigeria's malnutrition crisis, especially in the northwest, as 'bandits' continue to drive farmers away from their properties.
BBC News
12-08-2025
- BBC News
Nigeria military kills scores of gang members in air and ground raids
The Nigerian air force has killed scores of gunmen, known locally as "bandits", who were members of criminal gangs operating in Zamfara state, the military has air force said in a statement on Monday that it carried out a raid in Makakkari forest, north-west Nigeria, which was the hideout of the gunmen who were believed to be behind some high-profile kidnappings in the said it conducted the operation after surveillance detected more than 400 gang members preparing to attack a the past two weeks, armed gangs have targeted nearby settlements, killing scores and kidnapping many more. At least 13 security personnel have also been killed. The aerial strikes, in coordination with attacks on the ground, led to the deaths of "several notorious bandit kingpins and scores of their foot soldiers," air force spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame added that the ground forces intercepted and killed others trying to flee the parts of Nigeria, kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative business for bandits, motivated by financial gain, have also increased their cooperation with jihadist groups that have been waging a 16-year armed insurgency in the recent years, the military has launched a number of operations against the gangs, including last month when at least 95 gang members were killed - but the violence has persisted. You may also be interested in: Aid cuts will push Nigerians into arms of Boko Haram militants, UN warnsNigeria's Chibok girls: Parents of kidnapped children heartbroken - againNigeria's kidnap crisis: Inside story of a ransom negotiatorWhat is behind the wave of killings in central Nigeria? Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Yahoo
Nigeria: Military says dozens of gang members killed
The military in Nigeria said it killed more than 100 armed gang members, taking them out in a joint air and ground operation in the northwestern state of Zamfara. The operation took place "in the early hours" of Sunday in the Bukkuyum local government area, the military said. The move came after more than 400 gang members were seen preparing to attack a village. Armed groups — which are often called "bandits" by locals — have been terrorizing communities across the northwest and central Nigeria. What else do we know about the military operation? Nigerian Air Force spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said that the airstrike killed "several notorious kingpins and scores of their footsoldiers." He added that ground forces intercepted and killed others trying to flee the area in Makakkari Forest, where the operation took place. The military's attack "may have occurred in response to consecutive banditry, especially kidnapping, in the state in the previous month", the French AFP news agency reported, citing a conflict monitoring report produced by the United Nations on the operation. Bandits had been planning an attack on a farming village when the military operation started, the report added. Who are the so-called 'bandits'? Apart from charging farmers and local miners taxes, the "bandits" are also known for kidnapping people and holding them hostage for months, often demanding ransom for their release. The groups are often motivated by money, but they have lately been increasingly cooperating with jihadist groups in the area. The Nigerian government has repeatedly launched military operations against such groups, including an operation in July, in which at least 95 gang members were killed in the northwestern state of Niger. Military operations have nevertheless yet to succeed at quelling the violence, which has also exacerbated Nigeria's malnutrition crisis, especially in the northwest, as "bandits" continue to drive farmers away from their properties. Edited by: Rana Taha
DW
12-08-2025
- DW
Nigeria: Military says dozens of gang members killed – DW – 08/12/2025
An early morning operation by the Nigerian army took out more than 100 armed gang members in the country's northwest, the military said. The area is rife with mass abductions and attacks on villages. The military in Nigeria said it killed more than 100 armed gang members, taking them out in a joint air and ground operation in the northwestern state of Zamfara. The operation took place "in the early hours" of Sunday in the Bukkuyum local government area, the military said. The move came after more than 400 gang members were seen preparing to attack a village. Armed groups — which are often called "bandits" by locals — have been terrorizing communities across the northwest and central Nigeria. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Nigerian Air Force spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said that the airstrike killed "several notorious kingpins and scores of their footsoldiers." He added that ground forces intercepted and killed others trying to flee the area in Makakkari Forest, where the operation took place. The military's attack "may have occurred in response to consecutive banditry, especially kidnapping, in the state in the previous month", the French AFP news agency reported, citing a conflict monitoring report produced by the United Nations on the operation. Bandits had been planning an attack on a farming village when the military operation started, the report added. Apart from charging farmers and local miners taxes, the "bandits" are also known for kidnapping people and holding them hostage for months, often demanding ransom for their release. The groups are often motivated by money, but they have lately been increasingly cooperating with jihadist groups in the area. The Nigerian government has repeatedly launched military operations against such groups, including an operation in July, in which at least 95 gang members were killed in the northwestern state of Niger. Military operations have nevertheless yet to succeed at quelling the violence, which has also exacerbated Nigeria's malnutrition crisis, especially in the northwest, as "bandits" continue to drive farmers away from their properties. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Arabian Post
26-06-2025
- Arabian Post
Northern Bases Ambushed, 17 Soldiers Slain in Niger State
Seventeen Nigerian soldiers have died and ten more were wounded after coordinated attacks on three military bases in Niger and Kaduna states, the army confirmed. The assaults began in the early hours of Tuesday, as heavily armed gunmen stormed forward operating posts in Kwanar Dutse and Boka, along with a base in neighbouring Kaduna State. Combat persisted for several hours under heavy fire. Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele stated that the attackers numbered around 300 and emerged from Kwanar Dutse Forest. Troops engaged in a fierce, three‑hour firefight before calling in Nigerian Air Force precision airstrikes on retreating militants. The operation reportedly inflicted severe losses on the assailants. The fallen soldiers were flown to a military hospital, where those injured are currently stable. Local officials and military sources confirm that all 17 fatalities occurred at the Kwanar Dutse Mariga base. 'It was an ambush,' said Abbas Kasuwar Garba, chairman of Mariga district. 'They came from nowhere and used heavy ammunition to attack.' ADVERTISEMENT The Nigerian Army has launched a robust counteroffensive following the attack. A statement from the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Oluwafemi Oluyede, extended condolences to grieving families and underscored that all efforts are being made to treat the injured and pursue the perpetrators. Analysts note that this attack fits a disturbing pattern of escalating violence in the northwest, where criminal networks—often referred to locally as bandits—frequently clash with military forces and kidnap civilians. These criminal groups, some with suspected ties to Islamic insurgent factions, have increasingly targeted security facilities. This incident echoes past offensives, such as the April 2022 assault on a base in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna, where 17 soldiers were similarly killed. Militants in that attack used motorbikes and rocket‑propelled grenades, overrunning the facility in broad daylight. The involvement of a large number of assailants is a cause for concern. The military's use of both ground troops and air support suggests a coordinated response, yet the presence of hundreds of heavily armed fighters highlights porous security in enclaves like Kwanar Dutse Forest and the Boka region. Efforts to strengthen defences in vulnerable areas have continued, though the army has acknowledged difficulties maintaining forward posts and protecting communities. Bandits and militants appear adept at exploiting forested terrain and intelligence gaps, enabling them to mount sudden, lethal raids. Niger State has suffered a steep rise in such attacks over the past year, with bases and outposts frequently targeted. The military has frequently responded with joint operations and airstrikes—yet the death toll among soldiers remains troublingly high. In response to this latest tragedy, military authorities have reiterated their commitment to bolstering frontline capabilities, expanding intelligence gathering, and launching targeted operations in bandit‑infested zones. Plans are reportedly under discussion to reposition troops, upgrade armoury, and intensify patrols. At the same time, analysts caution that unless root causes—such as criminal networks, forest hideouts, and cross‑border militant ties—are comprehensively addressed, similar ambushes are likely to recur.
