Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Residents of Shagari and Bukkuyum communities in Sokoto and Zamfara States reported heavy aerial bombardment on Saturday, August 29, 2026, as military aircraft struck suspected bandit hideouts in forests across the two states. According to a post on X by Bakatsine, a journalist covering conflicts in North-West Nigeria, three aircraft were heard carrying out strikes on suspected bandit camps.
The strikes reportedly hit bandit camps in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State and around Gizazza in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Residents nearby reported seeing smoke and fire rising from the affected areas. Bakatsine also noted that stolen cattle kept by the bandits were among the targets of the operation. Local residents were advised to stay away from the forests until the situation becomes clearer.
The aerial operation comes amid intensified military efforts to combat banditry and terrorism across Nigeria's North-West region. The Nigerian Air Force has previously vowed to deny terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and other hostile elements the freedom to threaten vulnerable communities. The strengthened air presence is particularly significant in fighting asymmetric threats, where terrorists and bandits exploit difficult terrain, mobility, and concealment to evade ground forces.
The bombardment follows a series of military operations in the region. Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA recently rescued 16 civilians from separate attempted abductions in Zamfara and repelled a terrorist attack in Sokoto. On August 28, troops responded to a distress call in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State and rescued four civilians, while another operation in Tsafe Local Government Area led to the rescue of 12 passengers.
In a separate incident in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, troops repelled a terrorist attack and evacuated two civilians who sustained gunshot wounds. The military has continued to dominate the area to prevent terrorists from regaining freedom of action.
The airstrikes on bandit hideouts in Shagari and Bukkuyum represent a significant escalation in the military's campaign against criminal networks operating in the North-West. Residents have expressed relief at the military's proactive approach, with Bakatsine writing on X: "Kudos to the troops for taking the fight directly to the bandits' hideouts".
As of the time of this report, the military had not released official casualty figures or a detailed statement on the operation. However, the bombardment marks a continued effort by security forces to degrade the operational capacity of bandit groups and restore security to communities that have long suffered from attacks, kidnappings, and cattle rustling.
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