Nigerian forces killed more than 100 armed bandits during a coordinated air and ground assault in Zamfara state’s Makakkari forest camp early Sunday, according to a UN-monitored conflict report verified by multiple sources. The operation targeted a gathering of 400+ gang members planning an attack on farming villages in Bukkuyum, responding directly to Friday’s bandit raid on Adabka village that killed 13 security personnel and resulted in civilian kidnappings. Fighter jets and ground troops ambushed the camp, neutralizing key kingpins and destroying over 30 motorcycles and weapon caches. This marks the second major strike in weeks after July’s operation in Niger state killed 95 bandits.
Banditry in northwest Nigeria originated from conflicts over land and water between herders and farmers but has morphed into a lucrative criminal enterprise involving cattle rustling, ransom kidnappings, and extortion of farmers and miners. Armed groups exploit limited state presence in rural areas, imposing illegal taxes and burning villages after looting. Alarmingly, these gangs increasingly collaborate with jihadist factions like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), amplifying regional instability. The emergence of the Lakurawa jihadist group in Zamfara has intensified violence, complicating counterinsurgency efforts.
The conflict has displaced thousands, worsening a malnutrition crisis as farmers abandon fields due to attacks. Climate change and Western aid cuts exacerbate food insecurity, with 7.8 million Nigerians requiring urgent assistance, 80% being women and children. Despite military deployments since 2015 and state-backed militias, banditry spreads into central Nigeria. The military remains critically overstretched, operating in two-thirds of the country’s states while facing simultaneous threats from jihadist insurgencies and inter-communal violence.
While the raid disrupted bandit operations, Nigeria’s counterinsurgency tactics raise human rights concerns. Past airstrikes have killed hundreds of civilians, and the military faces ICC investigations for alleged war crimes, including a secret abortion program affecting 10,000 women. The UN report notes bandits’ shift toward mass kidnappings, exemplified by July’s abduction of 50+ people in Zamfara and the murder of 33 hostages despite ransom payments. Success hinges on addressing root causes: poverty, youth unemployment, climate stress, and corruption.