Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen
Kwara, Nigeria — The Nigerian military has intensified its counter-terrorism campaign in Kwara State, carrying out a series of airstrikes on suspected terrorist and armed criminal hideouts in the Local Government Areas of Ifelodun, Edu and Patigi, neutralising more than 100 suspected terrorists and bandits, security sources confirmed on Sunday, 25 January 2026. The operations form part of a broader offensive by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and allied forces aimed at degrading criminal networks that have terrorised rural communities across the North-Central region.
The sustained aerial assaults, conducted over the weekend, involved precision strikes on multiple targets identified through military intelligence as terrorist camps and logistics hubs in forested and difficult-to-access terrain. According to military sources, the operations destroyed hideouts used by armed gangs, disrupted their supply chains and forced surviving fighters to flee or abandon their positions.
A senior military officer, speaking under conditions of anonymity because of the ongoing nature of the mission, said the strikes were executed with support from surveillance and reconnaissance assets, which “provided real-time intelligence on hostile movements and concentrations.” The officer emphasised that the action reflected a deliberate strategy of combining air power with ground maneuvers to maximise effect and limit risks to civilians.
The air raids targeted camps reportedly operated by notorious bandits and kidnappers in remote enclaves around Baba Sango, Gbugbu and Lata in Kwara State. Residents in the affected communities reported hearing explosions as the jets conducted the strikes, and local leaders confirmed that many criminal elements had been displaced.
Military authorities said that while there have been no verified reports of civilian casualties linked to the air raids, operations remain ongoing and are being conducted with measures to avoid collateral damage. They stressed that the neutralised figure of “over 100” comprises suspected fighters and criminals whose identities are still being verified through follow-up intelligence and battlefield assessments.
The strikes are part of Operation Fansan Yamma, the Nigerian Air Force’s sustained campaign incorporating intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to improve precision and effectiveness. In recent months, similar air interdiction missions have been conducted across several states, including strikes on bandit camps in Kwara and other regions that have successfully degraded hostile capabilities and destroyed key logistics facilities.
Military officials reiterated calls for local communities to assist security forces by reporting suspicious activity and movements that could indicate the presence of criminals or collaborators. “Informants and collaborators within communities continue to hamper operations,” a senior source said, urging vigilance and cooperation to sustain pressure on remaining outlawed camps.
Security analysts say the intensified campaign demonstrates the armed forces’ commitment to tackling terrorism and banditry in Nigeria, while also underscoring the challenges of combating deeply entrenched criminal networks in remote and rugged areas. They note that ongoing air power operations, when paired with coordinated ground actions, can significantly weaken hostile groups, disrupt their command structures and enable ground forces to reclaim contested territory.
Although official breakdowns of casualties and identities of those neutralised have not been released, regional security sources expressed cautious optimism that the latest air campaign will degrade the operational capacity of armed groups in central Nigeria and reduce the frequency of raids that have displaced villagers and disrupted agricultural and economic activities.
The Nigerian military has emphasised that its offensive will continue, with further missions planned as part of a sustained effort to restore peace and normalcy to communities affected by terrorism and armed criminal activity across Kwara and neighbouring states.
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