NAF Bombards Lakurawa, Bandit Camps in Zamfara after US airstrike

 NAF Bombards Lakurawa, Bandit Camps in Zamfara after US airstrike 

 

In a major escalation of counterterrorism operations across the North-West, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has carried out devastating precision airstrikes on notorious bandit enclaves in Zamfara State, coming on the heels of United States missile strikes that crippled Lakurawa terrorist camps in Sokoto.

The Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma, Sector 2, executed two high-impact air interdiction missions at Turba Hill and the camp of feared bandit leader, Kachalla Dogo Sule, both located in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Several bandits were neutralised, while key operational facilities were destroyed.

Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, described the strikes as a significant breakthrough in the sustained offensive against armed banditry.

He said the operations were intelligence-driven, relying on credible, multi-source intelligence and persistent surveillance. The first strike targeted Turba Hill, identified as a major bandit hideout. According to Ejodame, aerial reconnaissance revealed intense human activity and a zinc-roofed structure serving as the nerve centre of the enclave.

“Following positive identification, the target was engaged with precision. Post-strike assessments confirmed the complete destruction of the structure and the neutralisation of several bandits,” he said.

The second mission struck Kachalla Dogo Sule’s Camp, a notorious stronghold linked to the manufacture and deployment of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Intelligence reports had connected the camp to recent deadly IED attacks along the Dan Sadau–Magami axis.

“The precision strike triggered intense fires that destroyed multiple active structures, effectively crippling the group’s IED production and operational capacity,” Ejodame added.

He noted that the airstrikes had significantly degraded bandit networks in Zamfara and reaffirmed the NAF’s commitment, in collaboration with other components of Operation Fansan Yamma, to denying criminal elements safe havens and restoring lasting peace across the North-West.

Army Confirms US Missile Strikes on Sokoto Terror Camps

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has confirmed that recent United States airstrikes targeted Lakurawa terrorist camps in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, delivering a heavy blow to the group’s operational capability.

A senior Army Headquarters source disclosed that the strikes were conducted in coordination with US Africa Command (AFRICOM) following actionable intelligence on terrorist movements along the Kaurau axis. The missile strikes hit camps in the Bauni Forest near Waria and Alkassim villages on December 25.

Follow-up patrols carried out the next day confirmed extensive destruction of terrorist infrastructure. Troops later recovered missile debris in Kajiji town, Tambuwal LGA, Kebbi State, believed to be components of Tomahawk missiles.

Army engineers identified some of the debris as fuel boosters weighing about 300 kilograms, capable of penetrating soft ground up to two metres. The Army assured residents that investigations and recovery operations were ongoing and urged the public to report any suspicious objects.

Eight Killed as Terrorists Attack Kebbi Communities

Despite the military gains, terror struck Kebbi State as gunmen launched coordinated attacks on Kaiwa, Gelawu and Gebbe villages in Shanga Local Government Area, killing at least eight people and injuring several others.

The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed that seven victims died during the attacks, while another later succumbed to injuries in hospital. One injured person is currently receiving treatment.

Police spokesperson, CSP Bashir Usman, said security forces had intensified patrols and surveillance across the affected areas to prevent further attacks, though details of ongoing operations could not be disclosed.

Residents described the assaults as unprecedented and devastating, forcing many villagers to flee their homes in fear.

Troops Kill 80 Terrorists, Rescue 34 Victims Nationwide

In a broader update, the Nigerian Army announced that troops killed over 80 terrorists, rescued 34 kidnapped civilians and arrested several criminal suspects in coordinated operations across multiple states between December 25 and 29.

The operations spanned Borno, Adamawa, Sokoto, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara, Plateau, Delta, Cross River and the Federal Capital Territory.

In Borno State, air and ground offensives neutralised 57 terrorists and disrupted ISWAP/JAS networks, while operations in Niger and Katsina repelled coordinated attacks and recovered stolen livestock.

Troops also rescued kidnapped civilians in Kebbi and Plateau states, arrested illegal miners in the FCT, apprehended armed robbery suspects, and dismantled oil bunkering and piracy syndicates in Delta and Cross River states.

The Army said the successes underscore its resolve to sustain intelligence-driven operations, protect lives and property, and dismantle terrorist and criminal networks across the country.