Over the weekend, the Nigerian military carried out a major operation that resulted in the deaths of over 100 criminals, as highlighted in a report provided to the United Nations.

These criminals, commonly referred to as “bandits,” have been causing chaos in northwest and central Nigeria for a long time. They raid villages, kidnap people for ransom, and set fire to homes after plundering them.

The military’s raid took place in Zamfara, a trouble-prone state in northwestern Nigeria, in the early hours of Sunday.

The operation happened in the Bukkuyum local government area, where fighter jets and ground troops attacked a camp of over 400 bandits in the Makakkari forest.

The assault was likely a response to ongoing kidnapping episodes and other acts of banditry in the state.

Bukkuyum’s Adabka village was recently the scene of a bandit attack where several residents were kidnapped, and 13 security officers lost their lives.

The bandits had plotted to attack a nearby farming village, but air and ground troops intercepted them at their camp, resulting in over 100 fatalities.

Origins of the Bandit Crisis

The crisis began as a dispute between herders and farmers over land and water rights, but it has evolved into organized crime.

These groups target rural areas that have minimal government presence. They’ve added cattle rustling and kidnapping to their tactics, creating lucrative ventures in an economically deprived countryside. They also impose taxes on farmers and artisanal miners.

This conflict has compounded the malnutrition crisis in the northwest, as people flee their farms due to the constant threat of violence. Climate change and reductions in western aid have worsened the situation.

Despite military efforts to curb these criminals since 2015, and the establishment of a militia by Zamfara’s government two years ago, violence remains unrelenting.

In a similar incident in July, Nigerian troops killed at least 95 armed gang members through a combination of shootouts and airstrikes in Niger state.

The military now faces a challenging task, as banditry spills over from the northwest into central Nigeria. The bandits, mainly driven by money, have begun collaborating with jihadist groups from the northeast, who have been waging a separate long-standing armed rebellion.

The cooperation between bandits and jihadists poses a new challenge for the security forces. With both groups operating for financial gain, their activities threaten not just immediate safety but also the economic stability of affected regions.

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