A coordinated operation between police and military forces was launched on Wednesday following a series of violent attacks by hundreds of armed men on several villages the night before. The counter-assault resulted in the deaths of three police officers and two soldiers.
In recent months, Nigeria’s northwestern and north-central regions—rich in mineral resources—have faced a surge in violent assaults by armed gangs, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries.
These so-called bandit groups are notorious for mass killings and kidnappings for ransom. Many of the members are believed to be former herders engaged in longstanding disputes with settled communities.
Exploiting the sparse security presence, dozens of these armed groups have been targeting villages and travelers on major roads. Kidnapping has become a profitable tactic for financing their operations and asserting control over local areas.
In addition to these ongoing conflicts in the northwest and north-central parts of the country, Nigeria is also grappling with a deadly insurgency in the northeast, where around 35,000 civilians have lost their lives and over 2 million have been displaced, according to UN estimates.
