Scores of bandits killed in Zamfara, Turji’s whereabouts unknown

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, on Sunday said top bandit commanders have been killed in a series of airstrikes in Zamfara State.

This was contained in a statement by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olusola Akinboyewa, on Sunday in Abuja.

Akinboyewa said the strikes which were conducted in collaboration with ground troops left several other bandits injured.

Though, the NAF spokesman did not give an exact number of casualties, he said local intelligence reports confirmed that the bandits, loyal to notorious leader Kachallah Bello Turji, suffered heavy casualties.

He added that despite the airstrikes, the whereabouts of notorious bandits leader, Kachallah Turji, remain unknown.

“Scores of bandits were neutralized, while many others, including some top commanders, sustained varying degrees of injuries.

“Sequel to the fierce engagement, Kachallah Turji’s whereabouts remain unknown, adding further pressure on his crumbling network,” he said.

The NAF spokesman described the Operation Fansan Yamma as a well-coordinated air-ground assault, stressing that it underscored the armed forces’ unwavering resolve to restore peace and security to the region.

According to him, the operation was meticulously executed, with real-time coordination from an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance platform overhead, ensuring accurate target correlation.

He noted that the bandits were observed fleeing eastward of the hill, in a desperate bid to escape, a move that prompted further engagements that successfully neutralized additional targets.