A major security operation in central Nigeria has killed more than 200 suspected members of an armed criminal gang, according to officials. Authorities did not provide exact figures for the number of arrests made during the multi-agency offensive that began on Saturday.
Footage shared by Kogi State Police shows flames rising from one settlement deep in the forest, where several gang camps were destroyed during coordinated attacks by security and paramilitary forces. Multiple branches of Nigeria’s security forces collaborated during the operation to dismantle the gangs’ strongholds.
For years, these gangs, known locally as bandits, have been terrorizing communities with killings and kidnappings for ransom. Lately, they have started moving into new areas, including Kogi State, which has become a hotspot because of its thick forests and its position linking northern and southern Nigeria. Officials say the operation has shaken the gangs, but some members are still on the run.
Security forces encounter difficulties as some hostages serve as human shields, making it challenging to apprehend the remaining criminals without jeopardizing civilian lives. “The only problem is that the bandits have kidnapped several individuals, knowing security forces wouldn’t want to harm the hostages,” Kogi State’s commissioner for information, Kingsley Fanwo, said.
The crackdown comes after a surge in mass kidnappings, including attacks on schools, which sparked nationwide outrage and prompted the government to intensify its response to armed criminal groups.
Officials say this operation is part of a bigger effort to make the region safer and protect communities from the growing threat of bandits. While the number of deaths reported is high, some experts warn that the figures might not be completely accurate. Still, the operation is one of the largest coordinated security actions in central Nigeria in recent years and shows that the authorities are taking a tougher stance against these criminal gangs.
