Africa report

Attacks and kidnappings in Nigeria: the disarray of the populations of the northwest [1/2]

Audio 02:07

A village in Kebbi State in northwestern Nigeria (Illustrative image).

© Jorge Fernandez/LightRocket via Getty Images

By: Moïse Gomis Follow

1 min

Over the past ten years, at least 8,000 people have been killed in northwestern Nigeria, thousands more have been abducted, and hundreds of thousands displaced.

And for a little over a year, the north-west of Nigeria has become a red zone in terms of security.

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Quasi-illegal enclaves have been established by groups of armed men in this vast region that shares borders with eastern Benin and southern Niger.

Hundreds of armed organizations are involved.

Some have dozens of members, others rely on hundreds.

With the explosion of trafficking in small arms and light weapons, organized gangs operate in forests, in mainly agricultural areas.

Private vehicles, public transport, but also schools are the main targets of attacks.

Officially, the Nigerian authorities have made the fight against these armed men nicknamed bandits a priority.

But until today, no arrest, no major trial of executor or sponsor.

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  • Nigeria