Nigerian security forces have killed more than 100 members of an armed group during a coordinated air and ground offensive in Zamfara State’s Bukkuyum area. The operation, launched early Sunday, targeted a forest camp where over 400 gang members were reportedly gathered.
Authorities say the raid was prompted by a surge in violent attacks, including the recent assault on Adabka village that left 13 security personnel dead and saw residents abducted. The targeted group, accused of terrorizing rural communities through raids, kidnappings, and extortion, was allegedly preparing another large-scale attack when troops struck.
The violence in northwestern Nigeria, rooted in disputes over land and water rights, has evolved into organized crime involving cattle rustling, ransom kidnappings, and illegal mining levies. Security analysts warn the crisis is fueling displacement, worsening food shortages, and increasingly intersecting with extremist insurgencies in other regions.