The Armed Forces of Nigeria have recorded another significant breakthrough in the ongoing campaign against banditry and terrorism in the North-West, following coordinated air and ground operations that resulted in the killing of a notorious bandit commander and the neutralisation of scores of terrorists in Zamfara and Katsina states.
The successful operations were carried out by troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma, with support from the Nigerian Air Force, as part of the military’s sustained offensive aimed at dismantling criminal networks and restoring peace to communities affected by insecurity.
According to military sources, the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma acted on credible intelligence indicating that a large convoy of heavily armed terrorists was moving through the Sunke–Kumbo axis in Zamfara State. The intelligence revealed that about 300 terrorists riding on motorcycles were heading towards the Bayazaki riverine area on their way to Gummi Local Government Area, where they were allegedly planning coordinated attacks on communities and security formations.
Following the intelligence report, the Nigerian Air Force immediately deployed three fighter aircraft to track and intercept the convoy before it could reach its destination. Surveillance confirmed the movement of the terrorists, who were reportedly travelling in groups across difficult terrain in an attempt to evade detection.
As the aircraft approached, the terrorists reportedly abandoned their movement formation and attempted to hide beneath large trees and within nearby vegetation.
However, the pilots maintained surveillance and launched a series of precision airstrikes on the identified locations, resulting in the elimination of dozens of the terrorists and the destruction of several motorcycles used in the operation.
Military officials said the strikes effectively disrupted the terrorists’ planned attacks and dealt a significant blow to their operational capability. The successful air mission also prevented what could have been another wave of violent attacks on innocent civilians in parts of Zamfara State.
In another major operation, ground troops responding to an attack on farmers around Dogon Kade engaged fleeing bandits in a fierce gun battle. During the exchange, the troops killed Alhaji Tukur, a notorious bandit commander widely believed to have coordinated several criminal operations in the region.
Military sources identified Tukur as the younger brother of the wanted bandit kingpin, Alhaji Shehu Bagiwaye, whose network has been linked to numerous cases of killings, kidnappings, cattle rustling and attacks on rural communities across the North-West.
Several other terrorists sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter but escaped into nearby forests. Troops have continued pursuit operations in the area to track down the fleeing suspects and prevent them from regrouping.
In Katsina State, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma also conducted aggressive fighting patrols along the Danmusa–Yantumaki axis, an area that has witnessed repeated attacks by armed groups. The patrols forced terrorists to abandon their positions and flee under sustained military pressure.
During follow-up clearance operations, soldiers recovered several motorcycles, weapons and other items believed to have been abandoned by the fleeing terrorists.
The recovered equipment is expected to aid ongoing investigations and provide further intelligence for future military operations.
The military described the coordinated operations as another indication that intelligence-driven air and ground offensives remain effective in degrading the operational strength of terrorist and bandit groups across the North-West.
Security authorities reaffirmed that Operation Fansan Yamma will continue to sustain pressure on criminal elements operating in forests and remote communities until lasting peace is restored. They also assured residents that troops remain committed to protecting lives and property while denying terrorists the freedom to operate.
The latest successes add to a series of recent military gains recorded across the region, where security forces have intensified operations against bandits responsible for attacks on communities, abductions, cattle rustling and other violent crimes.
The Armed Forces urged residents to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and credible information on suspicious movements, stressing that public cooperation remains essential to ongoing efforts to eliminate terrorism, banditry and other forms of violent crime across the country. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.
