A major military offensive in Zamfara State has left no fewer than 60 suspected bandits dead, following coordinated air and ground operations by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA.
Security analyst, Zagazola Makama, revealed the development in a post on his X handle, stating that the bodies were discovered on Monday afternoon at Matseri in Anka Local Government Area by personnel of 1 Brigade and 8 Division, Sector 2.
According to reports, the operation was launched after credible intelligence indicated the convergence of over 400 armed terrorists, including several notorious kingpins, in Makakkari Forest, which straddles Anka and Bukuyum LGAs. The NAF initiated the attack with precision airstrikes, inflicting heavy casualties before ground forces moved in for a mop-up mission.
The combined assault reportedly neutralised more than 100 bandits, while dozens of others fled with varying degrees of injuries. Military sources said the offensive significantly degraded the operational capacity of the criminal gangs and disrupted their plans to launch a retaliatory attack against security forces after recent clashes.
Eyewitness accounts from the area indicated that several motorcycles and weapons belonging to the insurgents were destroyed in the operation. Troops also foiled desperate attempts by the bandits to retrieve the corpses of their members, engaging them with sustained heavy artillery fire that forced them to retreat.
Clearance and patrol operations are ongoing in the affected communities to prevent any regrouping by the fleeing terrorists. The military assured residents that it remains committed to restoring peace and stability to the region, urging communities to cooperate with security forces by providing timely intelligence.
The latest operation comes amid intensified counterterrorism efforts in the North-West, where banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of violent crimes have plagued communities for years.
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