ABUJA — Nigeria’s military has killed more than 60 members of criminal gangs known as bandits, blamed for most of the country’s mass kidnappings. The offensive was carried out in the northwestern Zamfara state where police on Saturday confirmed a mass kidnapping carried out earlier in the week. Police there confirmed there had been a “mass” abduction of villagers in raids by armed gangs on Thursday night, but gave no figures. Residents estimate that seven people had been killed and 150 abducted when large numbers of heavily armed men invaded six villages Bukkuyum local government area. Police said a hunt has been launched for the attackers.Sunday’s security report said at “least 65 bandits” had been killed, in what it called a “major breakthrough”. But the “massive seven-hour ground and air offensive” was in Tsafe, a district around 200 kilometres from where the recent kidnappings occurred. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s military said it had rescued 31 worshippers seized from Easter celebrations in northwestern Kaduna State, as fresh violence elsewhere in the country underscored deepening insecurity. Gunmen raided a Catholic and an evangelical church in a village about 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Abuja, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria’s Kaduna chairman Caleb Bawa Ma’aji. “Through a swift response, (troops) have successfully foiled a terrorist attack leading to the rescue of 31 civilians abducted during an Easter church service” in Ariko village, the military said, adding troops engaged the attackers in a firefight that forced them to abandon the hostages. The army said five victims were killed, while Ma’aji put the toll higher at seven. The attack came despite heightened security ordered for Easter services. Kaduna and Zamfara are among several northwestern and central states plagued for years by heavily armed criminal gangs known as bandits, who raid communities and kidnap for ransom. Known locally as bandits, they carry out deadly raids on communities, kidnap residents for ransom and burn homes after looting them. Bandit violence started more than decade ago as clashes between herders and farmers in conflict over limited water and land resources impacted by climate change. The internecine violence morphed into organised cattle rustling and kidnapping for ransom syndicates. Gunmen attacked a village in Nigeria’s central Benue state, killing several people, according to officials and local residents on Sunday. The assault took place in Mbalom village in Gwer East local government area, an area within Nigeria’s Middle Belt that has witnessed recurring clashes over land use, alongside attacks by armed groups often referred to as “bandits.” Benue state government spokesperson Tersoo Kula confirmed the incident, stating that “certainly there were casualties”, though no official death toll was provided. However, residents reported a higher number of fatalities. One local, Terseer Ngutor, said “I can tell you that 17 people have been killed”. “The attackers came into the community around 5 pm on Saturday, and were shooting anyhow. I was in a far place. When they left we began looking for our people,” Ngutor told AFP. — AgenciesABUJA — Nigeria’s military has killed more than 60 members of criminal gangs known as bandits, blamed for most of the country’s mass kidnappings. The offensive was carried out in the northwestern Zamfara state where police on Saturday confirmed a mass kidnapping carried out earlier in the week. Police there confirmed there had been a “mass” abduction of villagers in raids by armed gangs on Thursday night, but gave no figures. Residents estimate that seven people had been killed and 150 abducted when large numbers of heavily armed men invaded six villages Bukkuyum local government area. Police said a hunt has been launched for the attackers.Sunday’s security report said at “least 65 bandits” had been killed, in what it called a “major breakthrough”. But the “massive seven-hour ground and air offensive” was in Tsafe, a district around 200 kilometres from where the recent kidnappings occurred. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s military said it had rescued 31 worshippers seized from Easter celebrations in northwestern Kaduna State, as fresh violence elsewhere in the country underscored deepening insecurity. Gunmen raided a Catholic and an evangelical church in a village about 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Abuja, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria’s Kaduna chairman Caleb Bawa Ma’aji. “Through a swift response, (troops) have successfully foiled a terrorist attack leading to the rescue of 31 civilians abducted during an Easter church service” in Ariko village, the military said, adding troops engaged the attackers in a firefight that forced them to abandon the hostages. The army said five victims were killed, while Ma’aji put the toll higher at seven. The attack came despite heightened security ordered for Easter services. Kaduna and Zamfara are among several northwestern and central states plagued for years by heavily armed criminal gangs known as bandits, who raid communities and kidnap for ransom. Known locally as bandits, they carry out deadly raids on communities, kidnap residents for ransom and burn homes after looting them. Bandit violence started more than decade ago as clashes between herders and farmers in conflict over limited water and land resources impacted by climate change. The internecine violence morphed into organised cattle rustling and kidnapping for ransom syndicates. Gunmen attacked a village in Nigeria’s central Benue state, killing several people, according to officials and local residents on Sunday. The assault took place in Mbalom village in Gwer East local government area, an area within Nigeria’s Middle Belt that has witnessed recurring clashes over land use, alongside attacks by armed groups often referred to as “bandits.” Benue state government spokesperson Tersoo Kula confirmed the incident, stating that “certainly there were casualties”, though no official death toll was provided. However, residents reported a higher number of fatalities. One local, Terseer Ngutor, said “I can tell you that 17 people have been killed”. “The attackers came into the community around 5 pm on Saturday, and were shooting anyhow. I was in a far place. When they left we began looking for our people,” Ngutor told AFP. — Agencies
