More than 200 suspected members of an armed kidnapping gang have been killed during a large scale security operation in central Nigeria, according to a Kogi state government official.
The multi agency offensive began on Saturday and has also led to several arrests, although authorities did not give an exact figure. Footage released by security forces shows one of the gang camps in a densely forested area of Kogi state engulfed in flames after being hit from the air.
Criminal groups, locally known as bandits, have for years carried out killings and mass kidnappings for ransom, mainly in north western Nigeria. In recent months, however, they have expanded operations into other regions, including the country’s central states.
The latest operation follows a surge in mass abductions, including repeated attacks on schools, which have triggered widespread public anger and prompted the government to intensify security measures. Last month, authorities secured the release of pupils and teachers abducted from a boarding school in neighbouring Niger state.
Kogi state information commissioner Kingsley Fanwo said several bandit camps were destroyed during coordinated weekend raids involving security and paramilitary forces. He added that efforts to pursue fleeing fighters were complicated by the use of abducted civilians as human shields.
“Security forces have put them in disarray wherever they try to regroup,” Fanwo told media. “The challenge is that they are holding civilians, knowing the security forces will try to avoid harming hostages.”
Kogi has increasingly become a hotspot for insecurity, with its dense forests and strategic location linking northern and southern Nigeria making it attractive to armed groups operating across state borders.
Security analyst Bashir Galma said the operation followed a recent directive by President Bola Tinubu ordering security chiefs to intensify action against bandit groups. He cautioned that casualty figures could be exaggerated, particularly with elections approaching, but said a surprise attack could still result in heavy losses.
Nigeria continues to face multiple security threats, including Islamist insurgency, communal violence over land, separatist unrest and widespread criminality.
In a separate development, the US military confirmed the delivery of critical military supplies to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, saying the move supported the country’s ongoing security operations. The US has recently increased its military involvement, including airstrikes on militant camps in north western Nigeria.
Nigerian authorities have said they remain committed to protecting all citizens regardless of faith and will continue engaging with international partners to address the country’s security challenges.