More than 200 gunmen killed in Nigeria security operation

More than 200 gunmen killed in Nigeria security operation

At least 200 gunmen were killed in the past three days in Nigeria’s central-northern state of Niger during a security operation to clear armed gangs from the area, a state commissioner said on Thursday.

Gunmen have terrorised citizens in the north and northwest of the country and have gained notoriety for kidnapping hundreds of students and villagers for ransom and killing dozens.

The Niger regional commissioner in charge of internal security, Emmanuel Umar, said some leaders of the armed gangs, known locally as bandits, were among those killed during an operation led by the army and volunteers from local vigilante groups and community leaders.

In a statement, Umar said 60 motorbikes, which the gangs used in raiding villages, weapons and cattle, were recovered from gunmen operating from camps deep inside the vast forests in the state.

An army spokesman did not immediately respond to questions.

Niger regional authorities said last year that Islamist militants had established a presence in one locality for the first time. Last month, President Muhammadu Buhari said the military had begun a major offensive against militants there.

At least four Nigerian security personnel were killed when their patrol vehicle detonated a landmine in the western-central state of Niger, a security official said.

Authorities in Niger said last year that Islamist militants had established a presence in the Shiroro local government area for the first time. Last month, President Muhammadu Buhari said the military had started a major offensive targeting militants there.

The use of explosives against security personnel in Niger state is not common, but gunmen are known to attack villages and kidnap people for ransom.

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) spokesman, Odumosu Olusola, said the explosion occurred on a road in Galadiman Kogo town in Shiroro in the early hours of Monday.

In a statement late on Monday, Olusola said the security personnel were killed when their patrol vehicle “stepped on a buried land mine which exploded immediately, killing all occupants except the driver, who is currently in a very critical condition.”

A spokesman for the governor of Niger said gunmen stormed Galadiman Kogo, killed an unknown number of people and burned buildings. -Reuters