Key facts
- Nigerian soldiers killed over 300 bandits in Zamfara state.
- The operation took place in Gummi district over two days.
- The bandits were involved in kidnapping, cattle rustling, and imposing levies.
- Security analysts note cooperation between jihadists and criminal gangs.
- The Zamfara government views the operation as a major success.
Nigerian soldiers have killed more than 300 members of kidnapping and cattle bandit gangs in the north-western state of Zamfara this week. The operation, which took place in Gummi district over two days, was described as a significant breakthrough by the Zamfara government.
Gangs involved in cattle rustling and kidnapping have been terrorizing communities in northern and central Nigeria, often cooperating with jihadists. These criminal groups raid farms, steal livestock, and kidnap individuals for ransom, sometimes imposing protection levies on farmers.