Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Katsina, Nigeria — The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has carried out a precision dawn airstrike on February 1, 2026, targeting bandit camps in the Shawu–Mununu forest axis of Faskari Local Government Area in Katsina State, security sources reported on Tuesday. The airstrike, part of the ongoing Operation FANSAN YAMNA campaign, was launched after intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) confirmed links between the encampments and recent violent attacks in the region, including incidents along the Bakori–Guga corridor.
According to military sources familiar with the mission, the precision air assault engaged multiple identified bandit hideouts in the early morning hours, striking with accuracy to neutralise an estimated 27 heavily armed bandits linked to organized criminal activity across the forested belt. The operation helped disrupt the operational capability of the armed elements, forcing surviving fighters to scatter and abandon their camps and supplies.
The strikes followed sustained aerial reconnaissance that mapped the movements and concentrations of armed groups believed responsible for a string of violent incidents, including ambushes and attacks on communities along critical regional routes. Intelligence assessments indicated these camps served as logistical and staging bases for such banditry, and their neutralisation was deemed necessary to protect civilians and deny criminals safe havens.
Post-strike assessments revealed that surviving elements fled the area in disarray, abandoning weapons and camp infrastructure, while NAF units continued aerial patrols and ISR missions along the Faskari–Bakori–Guga corridor to prevent regrouping. Sources said the follow-on surveillance and patrols are designed to support ground forces in tracking fleeing fighters and maintaining pressure on criminal networks.
Military officials hailed the coordinated operation, praising the skill and professionalism of NAF aircrews and supporting forces involved in the mission. They said the success of the strike underscores the importance of intelligence-driven and precision engagements in the ongoing effort to degrade the capabilities of armed bandit groups that have long threatened security in parts of the North-West.
Communities in Katsina State and surrounding areas have endured a pattern of insecurity, with armed bandit attacks on villages, travellers and remote settlements prompting repeated calls for enhanced air–ground operations. Analysts say such strategic strikes, coupled with continued intelligence collection and ground actions, remain central to government efforts to stabilise the region and protect civilians.
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