How NAF airstrike took out bandits convoy along Kebbi-Zamfara axis

How NAF Airstrikes Decimated Bandit Convoy Along Kebbi-Zamfara Axis

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) executed a major aerial offensive against armed bandit elements operating along the Kebbi–Zamfara corridor, neutralising a large number of fighters and significantly disrupting their movement and operational capacity.

The airstrikes, conducted on July 9, 2025, were part of Operation FANSAN YAMMA and were launched following credible, real-time intelligence reports indicating the movement of a large group of armed terrorists near Yarbuga in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Surveillance revealed the convoy consisted of approximately 150 motorcycles, each carrying two armed fighters, moving in batches across the area.

Upon positive identification of the hostile elements, NAF strike aircraft engaged the targets with precision-guided munitions, inflicting heavy casualties. Surveillance footage reportedly showed surviving fighters fleeing the scene on foot and motorcycles. Air platforms maintained continuous overwatch and conducted follow-up strikes to target escapees and obstruct possible withdrawal routes.

In a coordinated effort, Nigerian Army ground troops launched a mop-up operation in Yarbuga on the morning of July 10, confirming the success of the air campaign. Dozens of terrorist remains, a cache of weapons, and several burnt motorcycles were recovered at the scene, highlighting the scale of the operation’s impact.

Military sources described the joint air–ground offensive as a major setback for bandit groups in the region, reaffirming the Nigerian Armed Forces’ resolve to eliminate criminal elements and restore stability in northwestern Nigeria.

The Nigerian Air Force reiterated its commitment to supporting ground operations, denying terrorist groups freedom of action, and safeguarding civilian populations in line with ongoing counterterrorism and internal security efforts across the country.