NAF Airstrikes Kill Scores of Bandits in Zamfara

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced the successful execution of airstrikes in Babban Kauye village, Tsafe Local Government Area, Zamfara State, neutralizing scores of bandits and significantly weakening their operational capacity.

The operation, carried out on November 15 by the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma, targeted a large assembly of bandits reportedly planning coordinated attacks in the Tsafe axis. The Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday.

According to Akinboyewa, the airstrikes were part of Operation Farautar Mujiya, an aggressive air interdiction campaign aimed at eliminating bandit threats in Northwestern Nigeria. The operation struck key loyalists of notorious bandit leaders Dan-Isuhu and Dogo Sule, effectively disrupting their plans and eliminating high-ranking members of the groups.

“Intelligence sources revealed that the congregation of the criminals was perfecting plans for coordinated attacks against military personnel or civilians along the Tsafe axis,” said Akinboyewa. “Upon receiving credible intelligence, the NAF launched a series of devastating airstrikes, inflicting significant casualties on the criminal elements.”

Tsafe Local Government Area has been a hotspot for banditry, with factions loyal to Dan-Isuhu and Dogo Sule infamous for orchestrating violent assaults on communities, security forces, and infrastructure. These groups often use remote settlements like Babban Kauye as safe havens for planning and launching attacks.

The airstrikes represent a strategic effort by the NAF to degrade the operational capacity of bandit networks and restore peace to the troubled Northwest region.

The latest mission reflects the NAF’s commitment to supporting the broader objectives of Operation Fansan Yamma in collaboration with other security agencies. “The NAF remains resolute in its mission, in collaboration with sister services and other security agencies, to secure the region and indeed the nation as a whole,” Akinboyewa stated.

He assured Nigerians of continued efforts to eliminate threats posed by bandits, terrorists, and other criminal elements, reinforcing the nation’s peace and stability.