In a major tactical success, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has struck a decisive blow against banditry in Zamfara State, launching a precision airstrike on a large gathering of armed criminals during a wedding ceremony at Asaula Hills, Yankuzo Ward, in Tsafe Local Government Area.
According to credible intelligence sourced from local informants and Human Intelligence (HUMINT) operatives, scores of heavily armed bandits had converged on the elevated and rugged Asaula Hills terrain for a mass wedding ceremony. The information prompted immediate action under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the joint military offensive aimed at dismantling terrorist enclaves across the North West.
Military sources confirmed to Zagazola Makama that at exactly 1444 hours on Tuesday, August 5, surveillance teams identified over 100 motorcycles and a large number of armed individuals at the location. By 1600 hours, the NAF’s Sector 2 Command deployed a fighter jet that executed a surprise strike on the gathering.
“The strike caught the criminals off guard during peak celebration. It was a direct hit that neutralised dozens instantly,” one source confirmed.
The ceremony reportedly drew bandit factions from across Zamfara and neighboring Katsina State, including cells from Faskari and Kankara Local Government Areas.
Follow-up reconnaissance revealed the scale of the impact. At least 10 identifiable bodies were recovered by nightfall, with several others burnt beyond recognition. Local reports indicate 33 injured bandits are receiving makeshift treatment at the Comprehensive Health Centre in Yankuzo and in surrounding hamlets, often by unqualified personnel.
“The real death toll may be much higher,” another military source noted. “Given the number of motorcycles and weapons observed, ground troops are being advised to conduct mop-up operations at Yankuzo and other suspected hideouts.”
Operation FANSAN YAMMA, launched earlier this year, represents a renewed military push to neutralise bandit groups that have plagued Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, and Sokoto States. The operation targets known strongholds, logistics bases, and command structures of these armed groups.
This latest strike is part of a growing list of successful aerial and ground operations under the campaign, as Nigeria’s security forces intensify efforts to reclaim ungoverned spaces and dismantle terrorist networks in the region.
