Nigerian Air Force Kills Scores of ‘Bandits’ in Major Zamfara Raid

The Nigerian Air Force says it has killed dozens of armed gunmen, locally known as “bandits,” in a major offensive against criminal gangs operating in Zamfara State.

In a statement issued on Monday, Air Force spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said the operation targeted Makakkari Forest in north-west Nigeria  a notorious hideout for the gangs suspected of orchestrating several high-profile kidnappings.

The raid followed surveillance reports indicating that more than 400 gang members were preparing to launch an attack on a nearby village. Over the past two weeks, the region has been rocked by violent raids on settlements, which have left scores of civilians dead, many others kidnapped, and at least 13 security personnel killed.

According to the military, coordinated aerial bombardments and ground assaults led to the deaths of several notorious gang leaders and many of their fighters. Ground troops also intercepted and killed others attempting to flee the forest.

Kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative enterprise in parts of Nigeria, with some gangs reportedly forging alliances with jihadist groups that have been waging a 16-year insurgency in the north-east.

While the Nigerian military has intensified operations against the gangs  including a strike last month that killed at least 95 members  the cycle of violence continues to plague rural communities.

BBC