NAF airstrikes decimate bandit hideouts in Katsina, neutralize over 20 criminals

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed the successful airstrike operation in Katsina State, targeting notorious bandit enclaves in Unguwar Goga Hillforest, Ruwan Godiya Ward, Faskari Local Government Area.

The operation, conducted in the early hours of Thursday by the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma, specifically targeted the fortified camps of two feared bandit kingpins, Gero (Alhaji) and Alhaji Riga.

A statement released on Friday by the Deputy Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Group Captain Kabiru Ali, detailed the outcome of the strikes, noting that over 20 bandits were neutralized, with additional casualties recorded in the surrounding rocky terrain.

“The Nigerian Air Force has delivered a devastating blow to banditry in Katsina State, as the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma executed a precision airstrike in the early hours of March 13, 2025, decimating notorious bandit hideouts in Unguwar Goga Hillforest, Ruwan Godiya Ward, Faskari Local Government Area,” the statement read.

Ali further explained that Riga and Gero were key figures in the banditry operations in the region, known for sheltering terrorists responsible for deadly ambushes along the Funtua-Gusau Road, particularly between Yankara and Sheme villages.

“Their elimination marks a significant breakthrough in the ongoing military campaign to restore peace in the North-West,” he added.