By Nkechi Eze
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has dealt a decisive blow to armed bandits in Zamfara State, neutralising several notorious kingpins and scores of their fighters in a precision strike under Operation FASAN YAMMA.
The operation, which took place on 10 August 2025, targeted Makakkari Forest following credible intelligence reports of a planned large-scale attack. According to an official signed statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions had tracked the movements of over 400 bandits preparing to invade a farming community in the state.
The intelligence prompted a swift and coordinated offensive, with NAF fighter jets executing precision airstrikes while ground troops simultaneously engaged in a complementary assault. The joint effort, Air Commodore Ejodame revealed, not only eliminated several of the terrorists’ most wanted leaders but also decimated their ranks, significantly degrading their operational capabilities.
“The synergy between the air and land components made this operation exceptional,” he stated, praising the coordination that ensured maximum impact against the criminal elements.
The NAF spokesperson reiterated the Force’s commitment to sustaining relentless pressure on bandit enclaves and other criminal hideouts, noting that the success in Makakkari Forest is another testament to the effectiveness of ongoing counterterrorism efforts in the Northwest.
