Nigeria reports killing of 200 bandits in anti-kidnapping operation

More than 200 suspected members of an armed criminal gang in central Nigeria have been killed in an ongoing multi-agency operation that began on Saturday, according to Kogi state’s media officer. The offensive, aimed at combating a surge in kidnappings and killings, has also led to arrests and the destruction of several bandit camps. However, efforts to capture fleeing bandits are complicated by their use of abducted civilians as human shields. Kogi state’s strategic location has made it a hotspot for such criminal activities, prompting increased security measures following directives from President Bola Tinubu.

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