NAF Sorties Obliterate Terrorist Stronghold in Tsafe, Zamfara

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), operating under the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, launched a decisive precision strike against a fortified terrorist and bandit camp in Tsafe Local Government Area, Zamfara State.

Intelligence and surveillance assets had earlier identified a high-ground hideout in the Sauri area a strategic site used by the criminal elements as both a defensive bastion and a logistics hub for livestock theft.

Guided by actionable intelligence, NAF aircraft conducted several coordinated attack runs, precisely hitting key structures and supply points. The bombardment forced surviving militants to abandon their stronghold and attempt to escape into the surrounding vegetation. However, they were relentlessly pursued, tracked, and effectively neutralised on the ground.

The combined assault delivered a substantial blow: multiple terrorists were killed, and vital infrastructure supporting their operations were destroyed, severely weakening their capacity to regroup and resupply.

This operation embodies the resolve articulated by Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, Chief of the Air Staff, who has vowed to “find them, hunt them down, and protect our people.” Under his leadership, the NAF’s precision air power is being deployed to deny armed groups havens across the Northwest, reinforce security in volatile areas, and protect vulnerable communities.

According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, the success of the mission underscores the effectiveness of intelligence-driven, coordinated air-ground operations in dismantling entrenched terrorist networks.

The Tsafe operation builds on a growing pattern of NAF successes under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, where air interdiction has played a central role in curtailing banditry and insurgency. For instance, in July 2025, NAF jets struck a bandit convoy moving along the Kebbi–Zamfara corridor, disrupting escape routes and dealing heavy losses.

In the broader northern theatre, the NAF has intensified its efforts. November operations saw precision strikes in Borno, Kwara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Zamfara states under both Operation FANSAN YAMMA and Operation HADIN KAI – targeting ISWAP fighters and bandits alike.

The Tsafe strike not only removes key infrastructure for terrorist operations but also sends a clear signal: the NAF, alongside its ground partners, is aggressively working to deny criminal groups the advantage of terrain that once gave them sanctuary.

As security forces consolidate their gains, the operation marks a turning point in the fight to restore stability across Zamfara State.