The Nigerian army has killed 80 members of armed gangs during two days of heavy fighting in Kebbi State, northwestern Nigeria.
The military said the operation foiled a planned series of coordinated attacks on five villages.
According to a UN report, the clashes began when troops intercepted a group of gunmen attempting to cross into Kebbi from neighboring Zamfara State.
In a statement, the army said the firefight lasted three hours, resulting in the rescue of one hostage and the seizure of a cache of weapons and motorcycles.
Kebbi State remains under persistent threat from so-called “bandit” groups, which have evolved from local communal disputes into well-armed criminal networks exploiting the security vacuum in rural areas.
In this article:
