SUDAN: War on Civilians

Armed assailants on July 10th abducted an unspecified number of people in an attack on Akwando community in Kachia LGA.It came days after the army killed scores of bandits in an airstrike in the state.(Daily Post 11/7) Katsina: Armed gangs abducted at least 25 people during a July 6th attack in the Safana LGA.(Channels TV website, Lagos 8/7) Lagos: Police killed nine suspected kidnappers and recovered weapons and army uniforms in a failed abduction attempt in the Ikeja area of the state.Lagos and neighbouring states have grappled with attacks by criminal gangs, locally called bandits, for years despite continuing military operations.(The Punch website 5/7) Niger: The army killed scores of bandits in a security operation in Kundu village in the Rafi LGA.The troops backed by local vigilantes ambushed the bandits as they attempted to rustle cattle.