Nigerian security forces have killed at least 30 armed men in a coordinated counter-operation in Katsina State, following a wave of attacks on villages by bandit groups earlier this week.

The joint military and police response was launched on Wednesday, after hundreds of gunmen raided the communities of Kadisau, Raudama, and Sabon Layi on Tuesday evening. According to Nasir Mua’zu, Katsina’s Commissioner for Internal Affairs, the attackers were repelled and neutralized by airstrikes as they attempted to flee.

The operation came at a cost: three police officers, two soldiers, and one civilian were killed, while another civilian remains hospitalized with injuries.

Northwest Nigeria has seen a sharp rise in armed violence, with bandit groups—often composed of former herders—engaging in mass killings, kidnappings for ransom, and the destruction of farmland and infrastructure. These groups exploit the limited security presence in rural areas, making travel and agriculture increasingly dangerous.

The mineral-rich northwest and north-central regions have become hotspots for criminal activity, with dozens of armed factions operating across Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, and Niger states. Many maintain camps in forested areas and have carried out mass abductions, including schoolchildren.

In the northeast, Nigeria continues to battle a long-running insurgency led by Boko Haram and its splinter group ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province). Since 2009, this conflict has claimed over 35,000 civilian lives and displaced more than 2 million people, according to UN estimates.

The Nigerian military recently reported the neutralization of 24 insurgents in Borno State between July 4 and 9, as part of Operation Hadin Kai, a campaign aimed at restoring stability in the northeast.

Despite these tactical victories, security analysts warn that without sustained investment in local governance, infrastructure, and community reconciliation, the cycle of violence may persist.

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