Abuja / Maiduguri / Zamfara – July 2025

Nigeria’s armed forces say they have killed over 80 gunmen in a series of recent military operations in the northwest and northeast of the country, regions that have suffered years of violence from criminal gangs and extremist insurgents.

In separate missions conducted in Zamfara, Katsina, Borno, and Yobe States, troops targeted known hideouts using ground assaults, aerial reconnaissance, and drone strikes, according to a statement released by the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

“We neutralized multiple armed elements threatening the safety of our people,” said Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations. “Our operations will continue with intensity.”

The military claimed to have dismantled key camps belonging to bandit groups in Zamfara and neutralized Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters near the Lake Chad basin in the northeast.

Several AK-47 rifles, RPGs, motorcycles, and tactical radios were recovered. The army also reported the safe rescue of 21 civilians, including women and children held captive by the gunmen.

Despite the success, rights groups and locals have urged transparency and independent verification of the casualty figures, citing past cases of excessive force and civilian casualties during counterinsurgency missions.

“We support action against terrorists, but it must comply with international humanitarian law,” said Chika Onuoha of the Nigerian Civil Rights Front.

Insecurity in northern Nigeria remains a major challenge for President Bola Tinubu’s administration, with daily attacks, kidnappings, and armed raids continuing to destabilize rural communities and disrupt economic activity.

Analysts say a mix of military pressure and community-based peacebuilding is needed to achieve lasting stability in the region.

As operations continue, the military has called on civilians to cooperate by reporting suspicious movements and avoiding known conflict zones.