A large-scale security operation targeting armed kidnapping gangs in central Nigeria has reportedly resulted in the deaths of more than 200 suspected criminals, according to officials in Kogi State.
The multi-agency offensive, which began on Saturday, involved coordinated efforts by Nigeria’s security and paramilitary forces. Kogi State’s Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, said the operation also led to several arrests, although he did not disclose exact figures.
Aerial footage released by the Kogi State Police shows one of the suspected gang camps engulfed in flames within a densely forested area. The camps, hidden deep in the forests, were believed to serve as operational bases for criminal groups involved in kidnappings and violent attacks.
For years, armed gangs—commonly referred to locally as “bandits”—have terrorised communities across Nigeria, particularly in the north-west, through killings and mass abductions for ransom. In recent months, these groups have expanded their activities into other regions, including central Nigeria, heightening national security concerns.
The latest operation follows a sharp rise in mass kidnappings, including repeated attacks on schools that have drawn widespread condemnation. Just last month, authorities secured the release of the remaining pupils and teachers abducted in November from a boarding school in neighbouring Niger State.
Fanwo said several bandit camps were destroyed during the weekend raids, but efforts to track down fleeing suspects have been complicated by the use of abducted civilians as human shields.
“Security forces have thrown them into disarray wherever they attempt to regroup,” he said. “The challenge is that many of the bandits are holding kidnapped individuals and using them as shields, knowing the security forces will not want to endanger the hostages.”
Kogi State has increasingly emerged as a hotspot for insecurity due to its strategic location. The state connects Nigeria’s north and south through vast forest corridors, making it attractive to armed groups operating across state lines, according to security officials.
Security analyst Bashir Galma, a retired army major, said the Kogi operation aligns with a recent directive by President Bola Tinubu instructing top security officials to intensify the fight against kidnapping gangs nationwide.
However, Galma cautioned that casualty figures could be exaggerated. “There is no independent proof, and with elections approaching, politicians may be eager to demonstrate results,” he said. “That said, surprise operations can lead to high casualties, so it’s possible many were killed.”
Nigeria continues to grapple with a complex web of security challenges, including Islamist insurgency, separatist violence, and deadly clashes linked to land disputes. These overlapping crises have stretched the country’s security forces and intensified calls for international support.
Earlier this week, the United States military confirmed the delivery of critical military supplies to Abuja, saying the shipment was intended to support Nigeria’s ongoing security operations. The US has recently increased its military involvement, including airstrikes launched on Christmas Day against camps operated by an Islamist militant group in north-western Nigeria.
US President Donald Trump has warned that further strikes could follow if attacks on Christian communities continue. Nigerian officials, however, insist that victims of violence cut across religious and ethnic lines in a country home to more than 250 ethnic groups, broadly divided between a predominantly Muslim north and a largely Christian south.
Responding to Trump’s comments, Nigeria’s foreign ministry said the government remains committed to protecting all citizens without discrimination and will continue to engage constructively with international partners.
As security operations intensify across multiple regions, authorities say the focus remains on dismantling criminal networks while rescuing hostages and restoring safety to affected communities.
