Nigeria’s government says the army has killed more than 300 people it describes as “bandits” and “terrorists” in Zamfara state in north-western Nigeria. According to Zamfara’s information commissioner, Mahmud Muhammad Dantawasa, government troops carried out a two-day operation targeting armed gangs in the Gummi district. The statement says the operation “led to the elimination of more than 300 terrorists,” with figures reported for the week. Residents cited by The Guardian say vigilantes also took part in the fighting, which they describe as lasting through the night and into the following morning. The reports attribute responsibility for the reported casualties to the Nigerian military action and the joint involvement of local vigilante groups. The accounts provided do not include independent verification of the numbers or details about casualties on any other side. The government’s figures and residents’ descriptions are presented as part of ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and cattle rustling in the region.