An escapee from a bandits’ camp in Niger State says a disease outbreak and serious shortages of food, money, and medical supplies are weakening armed groups operating in parts of Niger and Zamfara states.
Speaking to Express Radio in Kano, Malam Ahmad Isma’il (not his real name) described harsh conditions inside the forest camps.
He said:
“There is widespread sickness in the camp, and there are no proper drugs or medical care.”
According to him, both captives and some of the bandits are battling illness, with poor sanitation and limited supplies making the situation worse.
“I was constantly afraid of getting infected because many people were sick and there was no treatment,” he added.
The escapee said the current situation offers security forces a chance to increase pressure on the criminal groups.
“If the operations continue strongly, it could further weaken them because they are already struggling,” he said.
For more than a decade, northwestern and north-central Nigeria have faced serious insecurity caused by bandit attacks, mass kidnappings, and insurgent violence.
Zamfara and Niger are among the worst affected states, with many rural communities repeatedly attacked.
Security expert Usman Bala Tsamiya Babba also said the bandits’ condition shows that ongoing military operations and cooperation between security agencies and local communities are having an effect.
He noted:
“If supply routes for food, drugs, and funds are blocked, it will speed up the end of their activities.”
