Dozens of terrorists and assailants have been reportedly killed in air strikes carried out by the air component of Operation Fansan Yamma in Mariga LGA of Niger state.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency analyst covering the Lake Chad region, the June 29 operation also disrupted the movement of militants operating in the area.
Zagazola reported that the military launched the operation after receiving credible intelligence that more than 200 terrorists were travelling on motorcycles along the Sangeko–Dogon Dawa–Womba axis.
Makama also said that the group was planning coordinated attacks and reinforcing criminal enclaves within the Kamuku forest corridor.
“In response, the Air Component immediately launched an Armed Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (AISR) mission using the military aircraft to conduct extensive aerial reconnaissance over Womba, Dogon Dawa, Kurugin, Birnin Gwari, Polewaya and Udawa,” Makama said.
“During the mission, the aircrew positively identified a group of terrorists travelling on three motorcycles en route to the Kamuku Forest.
“Following positive target identification and in line with established Rules of Engagement, the aircraft engaged the hostile elements with precision munitions, successfully neutralising them.”
Makama said a subsequent battle damage assessment, conducted out in collaboration with ground troops, confirmed the killing of the accused terrorists.
Lingering Security Issues
Niger State has increasingly become one of Nigeria’s major security flashpoints, with terrorists and armed bandits exploiting its vast forests and difficult terrain to launch attacks on communities, security personnel and critical infrastructure.
In recent months, the Nigerian military has intensified coordinated air and ground offensives targeting suspected terrorist enclaves in areas such as Shiroro, Munya and Mariga Local Government Areas in Niger State.
These operations form part of a broader campaign to dismantle criminal networks, disrupt logistics routes and restore security across the North-Central region.
Security experts say the military must sustain its operations and strengthen intelligence gathering to stop armed groups from regrouping, despite recording repeated successes against insurgents.
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Backstory…
Meanwhile, this comes few months after the Nigerian military announced the killing of over 20 suspected ISIS and ISWAP terrorists following a coordinated airstrike operations launched by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Borno State.
According to reports, the operation targeted terrorist hideouts near Metele, a northern Borno hamlet that is regularly targeted by rebels.
Major General Samaila Uba, the Director of Defence Information, revealed the situation in a statement released on Monday.
According to Defence Headquarters, it carried out the operation in response to intelligence reports indicating that terrorist fighters were moving and gathering in the region.
