Nigerian police eliminate 10 bandits in southern state

By Adam Abu-Bashal

ABUJA, Nigeria (AA) - Police in Nigeria’s southern state of Anambra killed 10 bandits during an operation against armed gangs, an official said Sunday.

Ammunition belonging to the bandits was also seized, said Ikenga Tochukwu, the spokesman for the Anambra state police.

A long-running conflict between cattle herders and farmers in Taraba, Benue and Plateau states has reached a new level in the last five years.

As of 2018, violent clashes between ethnic Fulani herders and farmers had escalated into kidnapping and robbery attempts, which had spread to various states.

Armed gangs formed in the Nigerian states of Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Jigawa, Kebbi and Sokoto exploit these conflicts and carry out attacks.

Since 2018, hundreds of people have been killed in attacks by gunmen and thousands have been forced to flee their homes.

Although the army banned the use of motorcycles as a means of transport in these states due to an increase in attacks and crimes, gang members continue to attack people and use motorbikes to escape.