The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has significantly ramped up its counterterrorism and anti-banditry operations, executing a series of precision airstrikes against entrenched criminal hideouts across Kwara, Borno, Katsina, and other states in the northern region.
Targets included Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) positions in Mallam Fatori and Shuwaram, Borno State; bandit camps in Garin Dandi and Chigogo, Kwara State; and the notorious Zango Hill in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.
In a comprehensive statement released on Monday, NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed that the successful airstrikes destroyed logistics hubs and neutralized numerous adversaries.
The statement partly read: “The Nigerian Air Force intensified its counterterrorism and counter-banditry operations nationwide with a series of precision airstrikes that neutralised ISWAP terrorists in Mallam Fatori and Shuwaram, Borno State, and destroyed bandit enclaves in Garin Dandi and Chigogo, Kwara State, as well as Zango Hill in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.”
Elaborating on the success in the Northeast, the NAF detailed the concerted effort against insurgents operating in the Lake Chad region.
“In Borno State, NAF air interdiction missions dealt a heavy blow to ISWAP terrorists entrenched in the Northern Tumbuns. Guided by real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) feeds, air assets conducted precision strikes southeast of Shuwaram before shifting to Mallam Fatori, where ISWAP elements were observed mobilising with motorcycles and boats along the Lake Chad Basin. The strikes destroyed insurgent hideouts, logistics hubs, and weapons storage facilities, eliminating several terrorists and crippling their mobility. Post-strike assessments confirmed multiple neutralizations and significant degradation of ISWAP’s operational networks in the area,” the statement continued.
Simultaneously, operations were successfully conducted in the North Central region against bandit elements. “Simultaneously, NAF aircraft carried out precision air interdiction missions over Garin Dandi and Chigogo in Kwara State, striking bandit camps with accuracy based on credible intelligence. The attacks caused panic and inflicted heavy losses among the criminals.”
Furthermore, the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA expanded its reach into the Northwest, conducting targeted operations against known criminal leaders and their fighters.
“In a related operation, air assets under Operation FANSAN YAMMA struck Zango Hill in Kankara LGA, Katsina State — the hideout of a terrorist kingpin and his fighters. Guided by actionable intelligence and ISR surveillance, multiple attack passes were executed, destroying key logistics hubs and neutralising several terrorists in one of the most decisive strikes in the region,” Ejodame stated. The reconnaissance missions also covered key settlements across Zamfara, Kebbi, and Kaduna states.
The spokesperson detailed the final phases of the reconnaissance mission: “Demonstrating sustained reach and precision, the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA (Sector 1) conducted an armed reconnaissance mission across the northwest corridor, covering key settlements in Zamfara, Kebbi, and Kaduna states, including Kakihum, Dankolo, Kotonkoro, and Kuyello. These locations serve as known routes and hideouts for armed groups along the Birnin Gwari–Funtua axis. During the mission, coordination with Forward Operating Bases at Dankolo and Kotonkoro revealed suspicious movement near Wam Hill, where terrorists on motorcycles were spotted attempting to flee. The aircrew swiftly engaged and neutralised the targets, with no further hostile activity observed.”
These successful, multi-state operations underscore the NAF’s commitment to escalating the fight against non-state actors under the direction of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke.
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