NAF Eliminates Over 20 Terrorists, Stops Civilian Attack in Zamfara

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has successfully taken out more than 20 heavily armed terrorists and destroyed over 21 motorcycles during a strategic air interdiction mission in Zamfara State.

In an official statement released by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF Headquarters, the operation took place in a location south of Mai-Galma in the Maru Local Government Area. The primary goal of the mission was to disrupt a planned large-scale assault by armed bandits targeting unprotected rural communities.

Based on actionable intelligence, NAF command learned that a large number of terrorists were regrouping in preparation for an imminent attack on unsuspecting villages.

The statement further noted that the armed group had already committed heinous acts, including the killing of farmers and kidnapping of civilians, among them women and children. In response, NAF deployed combat aircraft under Operation FANSAN YAMMA to carry out armed reconnaissance and to potentially rescue abducted civilians.

During the aerial mission, NAF surveillance identified over 30 motorcycles transporting terrorists into the forest. When they spotted the aircraft, the terrorists opened fire. This prompted a precise counterattack, which led to the destruction of multiple motorcycles and the elimination of a significant number of the assailants.

NAF confirmed that ground troops were immediately dispatched to capitalize on the airstrike’s impact. These troops validated the destruction of enemy vehicles and confirmed that more than 20 terrorists had been neutralized in the process.

Unfortunately, the operation also resulted in casualties among local security support. Two vigilante members were killed, and two others were injured during the exchange of gunfire.