Army Airstrikes Target Suspected Terrorists, Bandits in Niger and Kaduna

The Nigerian Army says troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA have carried out intelligence-led air operations against suspected terrorists and armed bandits in parts of Niger and Kaduna states, disrupting planned attacks and degrading the operational capability of criminal groups.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Army said the Air Component of the Joint Task Force North West conducted the operations on June 29 after receiving intelligence on the movement and concentration of suspected terrorists within the theatre of operations.

According to the military, one of the operations was conducted in the Dogon Dawa axis of Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State, where intelligence reports, corroborated by human sources, indicated that more than 200 suspected terrorists riding motorcycles had converged in the area.

The Army said aerial surveillance tracked the movement of the suspects in groups before identifying a large concentration of motorcycles at what was believed to be a refuelling point.

Based on the intelligence gathered, the Air Component launched what it described as a precision airstrike on the location.

The military said a subsequent Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) indicated that several suspected terrorists were neutralised, while others fled the area with injuries towards the Kurugin Maidawa axis.

According to the statement, the operation disrupted the activities of the suspected terrorists, weakened their operational capability and prevented them from regrouping for further attacks.

In a separate operation, the Army said an armed reconnaissance mission was carried out in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State following intelligence that armed bandits were mobilising for reprisal attacks against troops after recent clearance operations in the Womba general area.

The military said air crews intercepted three motorcycles conveying suspected bandits heading towards the Kamuku Forest after the riders allegedly attempted to evade detection upon sighting the aircraft.

According to the Army, the operation successfully disrupted the movement of the suspected bandits before they could reach their intended destination.

It added that follow-up reconnaissance missions conducted in coordination with ground troops found no further suspicious activity in the area.

The Army said the latest operations underscore the effectiveness of coordinated air and ground offensives in maintaining pressure on terrorist and bandit groups operating across Nigeria's North-West.

It added that the Theatre Commander commended personnel involved in the missions and reaffirmed the military's commitment to sustaining offensive operations until terrorist and bandit enclaves are dismantled and lasting peace is restored across the theatre.

While the Army said several suspected terrorists were neutralised during the operations, it did not provide a specific casualty figure.