Nigeria’s military and security forces have killed dozens of armed men in separate operations in the northwest and the northeast of the country, authorities have said. Security forces killed at least 30 gunmen after armed attacks in the restive northwest, Nasir Mua’zu, Katsina state’s commissioner for internal affairs, said on Thursday. He claimed “criminals” were raiding three villages on Tuesday when they were killed by government forces. A joint police and military operation was launched on Wednesday after hundreds of armed men attacked several villages, Mua’zu added in a statement. He said a civilian, two soldiers and three policemen were also killed. “Our gallant security forces successfully repelled the attackers … Thirty of the criminals were neutralised through coordinated air strikes as they attempted to escape,” Mua’zu said. “We are working tirelessly with federal security agencies to ensure the safety of all citizens.” Separately, in Nigeria’s northeast, the military “neutralised” 24 armed fighters in days of coordinated operations, an army statement said on Thursday.

Full story : Authorities claims 24 fighters ‘neutralised’ around northeast Borno state and 30 armed men killed in northwest Katsina.