By Emmanuel Obisue
Nigeria’s Armed Forces over the weekend successfully dismantled a key bandit stronghold in Zamfara State.
Precisely on Friday, January 10, ‘Operation FANSAN YAMMA’, the code name for the military’s special operation in the Northwest, unleashed a devastating, coordinated air-ground assault on Fakai Hills, a known haven for bandits led by the infamous Kachallah Bello Turji.
Nigerian Pilot reports that the well-executed operation resulted in the neutralization of scores of fighters, including some of Turji’s top commanders, and inflicted significant damage to the criminal network.
Confirming this in a statement on Sunday, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, Director of Public Relations and Information at the Nigerian Air Force, NAF Headquarters, said the attack which was a precise strike involving airstrikes and synchronized ground operations, targeted the heart of the bandits’ operations.
He said aerial surveillance from the Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance platform guided the assault, ensuring that only high-value targets were hit with pinpoint accuracy. Rockets and cannons were deployed in multiple passes, decimating enemy forces and forcing many bandits to flee eastward in a desperate retreat, Akinboyewa added.
Nigerian Pilot reports that while many bandits were killed or injured in the engagement, the whereabouts of Turji remain unknown as at the time of writing this report, placing additional strain on his crumbling faction.
The operation also saw a significant humanitarian outcome, as several kidnapped victims were freed, offering hope to families previously devastated by the banditry.
In reaction, local communities in Zamfara expressed immense relief, hailing the successful operation as a turning point in the fight against armed criminality.
This is as the Nigerian Air Force has vowed to continue its relentless pursuit of criminals, reaffirming its dedication to the safety and well-being of all citizens.
“Together, we will defeat all enemies threatening our nation’s security,” Akinboyewa noted.
