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Large-scale offensive targets armed gangs in central Nigeria
More than 200 suspected members of an armed criminal group have been killed during a multi-agency operation in Kogi state, a government official confirmed to the BBC on Wednesday.
Operation details and challenges
The offensive, which began on Saturday, has also resulted in arrests, though the exact number was not disclosed by Kogi state government spokesperson Kingsley Fanwo. Helicopter footage shared with the BBC by local police shows a settlement engulfed in flames within a densely forested area.
Fanwo reported that several bandit camps were destroyed over the weekend through coordinated efforts involving Nigeria's military, police, and paramilitary forces. However, security forces face difficulties as fleeing gang members use abducted civilians as human shields.
"Security forces have put them in disarray wherever they try to regroup. The only problem is that the bandits have kidnapped several individuals which they are using as human shields, knowing that the security forces wouldn't want to kill the hostages along with the bandits."
Kingsley Fanwo, Kogi State Commissioner for Information
Kogi state's growing security crisis
Kogi has increasingly become a hotspot for insecurity due to its strategic location, linking northern and southern Nigeria through dense forest corridors. Armed groups, locally known as "bandits," have expanded their operations beyond the northwest, carrying out killings and kidnappings for ransom.
The latest offensive follows a surge in mass abductions, including attacks on schools, which have triggered nationwide outrage. Last month, authorities secured the release of pupils and teachers kidnapped in November from a boarding school in neighboring Niger state.
Expert skepticism and broader security concerns
Retired army major and security analyst Bashir Galma expressed doubts about the reported casualty figures, suggesting they might be inflated for political reasons ahead of next year's elections. However, he acknowledged that the element of surprise could have resulted in significant losses for the gangs.
Nigeria faces multiple security challenges, including an Islamist insurgency, separatist unrest, and clashes over land. On Tuesday, the U.S. military shared images of a plane unloading "critical military supplies" in Abuja, emphasizing its partnership with Nigeria. The U.S. recently conducted airstrikes on Christmas Day targeting Islamist militant camps in the northwest.
Government response to international concerns
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump warned of further strikes if attacks on Christians in Nigeria continued. Nigeria's foreign ministry responded by reaffirming its commitment to protecting all citizens, regardless of faith.
"Nigeria remains committed to protecting all citizens, Christians and Muslims alike, without discrimination."
Alkasim Abdulkadir, Nigerian Foreign Ministry Spokesman
