Scores of suspected terrorists have been killed following a series of airstrikes carried out by the Nigerian Air Force under Operation Fansan Yamma in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama, the coordinated air operations were conducted on June 29 after intelligence reports revealed that a large group of more than 200 armed terrorists travelling on motorcycles was moving through the Sangeko–Dogon Dawa–Womba axis.
The publication reported that the fighters were allegedly heading to reinforce criminal hideouts within the Kamuku Forest corridor and were planning coordinated attacks in the area.
Acting on the intelligence, the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma reportedly deployed an Armed Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (AISR) mission to monitor activities across Womba, Dogon Dawa, Kurugin, Birnin Gwari, Polewaya and Udawa.
During the aerial surveillance, military personnel identified a group of suspected terrorists riding three motorcycles toward the Kamuku Forest. Following what was described as positive target identification and in line with operational rules of engagement, the aircraft launched precision strikes on the targets.
The strikes successfully eliminated the identified suspects, while a subsequent battle damage assessment conducted with support from ground troops confirmed the operation’s success, the report said.
According to Zagazola Makama, follow-up surveillance detected no further suspicious movements or immediate threats within the affected operational area.
In a separate operation carried out later the same day, the military aircraft reportedly conducted another armed reconnaissance mission over Dogon Dawa, Kurugin Maidawa and nearby communities.
During the mission, surveillance teams observed several suspected terrorists on motorcycles gathering at what was identified as a logistics and refuelling point believed to be supporting insurgent operations.
The report stated that the location was assessed as a critical logistics hub, prompting the aircrew to carry out another precision strike that destroyed the gathering and killed a significant number of the suspected terrorists.
According to report, the operation was executed without any reported collateral damage and complied with established operational procedures.
