The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has intensified air operations against terrorists and bandits across the country, with precision strikes that neutralised several Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters and destroyed criminal hideouts in Borno, Kwara, Katsina and Kaduna states.
Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said in a statement that the coordinated missions were carried out on November 9 under the ongoing counterterrorism and counter-banditry operations.
He said the air interdictions in Borno State targeted ISWAP strongholds in Mallam Fatori and Shuwaram in the Northern Tumbuns area. Guided by real-time intelligence and surveillance feeds, the air component executed precision strikes on terrorist positions, logistics hubs, and weapons storage facilities.
“Post-strike assessments confirmed multiple neutralisations and a significant degradation of ISWAP’s operational networks in the area,” Ejodame said.
He added that the strikes also destroyed several motorcycles and boats used by the terrorists for movement along the Lake Chad Basin.
In a simultaneous operation, NAF aircraft under Operation FANSAN YAMMA hit bandit enclaves in Garin Dandi and Chigogo in Kwara State, as well as Zango Hill in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.
According to the statement, the Zango Hill strike targeted the hideout of a notorious terrorist kingpin and his fighters, with multiple attack passes destroying key logistics facilities and neutralising several criminals.
The Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA (Sector 1) also conducted armed reconnaissance across the northwest corridor, covering parts of Zamfara, Kebbi and Kaduna states, including Kakihum, Dankolo, Kotonkoro and Kuyello — identified as known routes and hideouts for bandits along the Birnin Gwari–Funtua axis.
Ejodame said the operations reaffirm NAF’s resolve to sustain pressure on terrorists and bandits until normalcy is fully restored in affected communities.