14/07/2026 15:42 - Internacionales
In a two-day operation in the Gummi district of Zamfara state, Nigerian soldiers and local vigilantes confronted approximately 1,000 bandits who had stolen cattle. According to Zamfara's Commissioner of Information, Mahmud Muhammad Dantawasa, the operation "led to the elimination of more than 300 terrorists," as reported by The Guardian on July 11, 2026.
For years, armed gangs made up of cattle thieves and jihadists have terrorized communities in the north and central regions of Nigeria. These groups raid farmlands, steal livestock, kidnap people for ransom, and impose extortion on farmers. Security analysts point out that criminals and jihadists have cooperated in recent years, sharing an interest in keeping the central government weak.
A Gummi resident, Abubakar Muhammad, recounted that the campaign began on a Wednesday night when military forces and vigilantes ambushed the criminals. The battle raged throughout the night and into the following morning, ultimately overpowering the bandits. Notably, two weeks prior, troops had attempted to storm the criminals' camp but were outnumbered and forced to retreat.
Nigeria's fight against insecurity also includes battling the Islamist insurgency of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Recently, the United States deployed hundreds of soldiers to support the African nation. In fact, a joint operation in May 2026 succeeded in killing the Islamic State's second-in-command and around 200 fighters in the country's northeast.
On Saturday, July 11, the army reported taking "casualties" during the rescue of more than 40 kidnapped children by suspected jihadists. This kidnapping shocked the nation as it occurred in the southwest, an area previously considered relatively safe, highlighting the extent of the security challenge the government is determined to reverse with decisive action.
Source: The Guardian
Alfredo S. Quiroga
