Nigerian security forces kill 30 gunmen in counter-attack in northwest
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Security forces patrol a rural road in northwest Nigeria after repelling a deadly raid by armed gangs.
Nigerian Security Forces Kill 30 Gunmen in Major Counter-Attack
Nigerian security forces have killed at least 30 armed men in a major counter-attack following coordinated assaults on multiple villages in the country’s northwest, authorities announced on Thursday.
The operation, carried out on Wednesday, came in response to a wave of violent raids launched the previous evening. A joint team of military and police personnel engaged the attackers in gun battles, killing dozens and reclaiming areas under siege.
Despite the successful offensive, the clash resulted in the death of five security personnel — three police officers and two soldiers — highlighting the ongoing risks security forces face in trying to curb unrest in Nigeria’s northern regions.
Unrelenting Attacks in the North
Nigeria’s northwest and north-central regions have seen a surge in armed attacks in recent months, leaving hundreds of civilians dead or wounded. The affected areas — including Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and Kaduna states — have become flashpoints for banditry and insurgent activity.
Most of the armed groups are loosely organised and are made up primarily of former herders. Longstanding tensions over land disputes, grazing rights, and water access have evolved into more violent confrontations, fueled by poverty, weak governance, and access to illegal firearms.
Locals say the government’s response has often been slow or absent altogether, leaving many communities to fend for themselves.
“They came at night and opened fire on us. We lost everything,” a resident in one of the attacked villages said. “If not for the soldiers who came later, we would all be gone.”
Kidnappings and Ransom Economy
The rise in violence has been accompanied by a booming kidnap-for-ransom industry. Dozens of schoolchildren, women, and farmers have been abducted in recent weeks, with their captors demanding huge ransoms in exchange for their release.
This illegal activity has created a lucrative business model for the gangs, enabling them to fund further operations and strengthen their hold on remote areas. Communities have been abandoned, farmland left uncultivated, and schools shut down due to security concerns.
Security experts warn that this growing economy of crime is undermining national stability and eroding public confidence in state protection.
Security Forces Respond
In response to the deteriorating situation, Nigeria’s government has deployed more military and police personnel to the northwest. Wednesday’s successful counter-offensive is one of the most high-profile operations in recent weeks.
A spokesperson for the military said troops are acting on real-time intelligence and will continue to pursue armed gangs operating in the forests and along major roads.
“Our forces remain committed to defending all Nigerians,” the spokesperson said. “Operations will continue until these criminal elements are completely dismantled.”
Despite the tough rhetoric, critics say the government must go beyond military action and implement lasting solutions, including community policing, local peace deals, and economic interventions.
Broader Conflict Landscape
The crisis in the northwest is part of a broader conflict landscape in Nigeria. In the northeast, the country continues to battle a 15-year insurgency by Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, ISWAP. According to the United Nations, more than 35,000 civilians have been killed, and over 2 million displaced in that region alone.
Meanwhile, security gaps in the northwest have allowed bandit groups to flourish, often outpacing government responses.
Dozens of armed factions now operate independently or in coordination, striking with little warning and withdrawing into forests and border areas that are hard to patrol. Many local highways have become no-go zones, with attacks on buses, commercial trucks, and private vehicles now common.
Urgent Call for Reform
Civil society groups, humanitarian agencies, and regional leaders have urged the federal government to take more decisive action. They argue that the long-term solution lies in addressing root causes such as poverty, unemployment, corruption, and lack of infrastructure.
Until those issues are tackled, analysts say Nigeria will remain vulnerable to criminal violence, even with military victories like the one reported this week.
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