NAF airstrikes eliminate scores of bandits in Zamfara

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced the successful execution of airstrikes by its Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma, neutralizing scores of bandits in Babban Kauye village, Tsafe Local Government Area, Zamfara State, on November 15.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, confirmed that the airstrikes targeted a large gathering of bandits during a sustained air interdiction campaign, codenamed Operation Farautar Mujiya.

“These operations aim to eliminate bandit threats in Northwestern Nigeria,” Akinboyewa said, adding that the offensive led to the elimination of key associates of notorious bandit leaders Dan-Isuhu and Dogo Sule.

The airstrikes were reportedly launched following intelligence that bandits were congregating in Babban Kauye to plan coordinated attacks against military personnel or civilians in the Tsafe axis.

“Upon receiving credible intelligence, the NAF launched a series of devastating airstrikes, inflicting significant casualties on the criminal elements,” Akinboyewa stated. “Reports from the ground confirmed the successful elimination of numerous high-ranking members of the bandit groups, dealing a severe blow to their operational capacity.”

The Tsafe Local Government Area has long been a hotspot for banditry, with factions loyal to Dan-Isuhu and Dogo Sule infamous for violent attacks on communities, security forces, and critical infrastructure. These groups often use remote settlements like Babban Kauye as strategic bases for their operations.

Akinboyewa emphasized that the recent strikes demonstrated NAF’s commitment to supporting Operation Fansan Yamma’s theatre command and broader efforts to dismantle bandit networks in the region.

“The NAF remains resolute in its mission, in collaboration with sister services and other security agencies, to secure the region and the nation as a whole,” he said. “We will work to eliminate threats posed by terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements undermining the peace and prosperity of our country.”

The airstrikes represent another step toward restoring stability to the embattled Northwest.