The Nigerian military has intensified its offensive against armed groups in the North-West, with airstrikes killing several suspected terrorists and disrupting bandit movements in parts of Niger and Kaduna states.
The operations, conducted by the Air Component of the Joint Task Force, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, targeted suspected terrorist gatherings and bandit movements following intelligence reports on their activities across the two states.
Military authorities said one of the operations was launched in the Dogon Dawa axis of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State after intelligence indicated that more than 200 suspected terrorists had assembled on motorcycles.
Aerial surveillance reportedly confirmed the movement of armed men before fighter aircraft struck a location identified as a refuelling point for the group.
According to the military, post-strike assessments showed that several of the suspects were killed, while others fled the area with varying degrees of injuries towards the Kurugin Maidawa axis.
The military said the operation significantly weakened the group’s operational capability and disrupted plans for further attacks.
In a separate mission over Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, air surveillance intercepted suspected bandits reportedly moving towards the Kamuku Forest to launch reprisal attacks against troops involved in recent clearance operations.
The aircraft tracked three motorcycles conveying the suspects, forcing them to abandon their movement after attempting to evade detection. Follow-up reconnaissance conducted alongside ground troops found no further suspicious activity in the area.
The military said the coordinated air and ground operations reflect the effectiveness of its ongoing campaign against terrorist and bandit networks across the North-West.
It added that Operation FANSAN YAMMA would sustain offensive operations until criminal enclaves are dismantled and security is fully restored across the region.
