More than 60 suspected bandits have been confirmed dead following a major air and ground operation by the Nigerian military in Zamfara State.
The operation, carried out under Operation FANSAN YANMA, involved heavy air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and mop-up operations by ground troops from the Nigerian Army.
The bodies were discovered on Monday afternoon by soldiers from the 1 Brigade and 8 Division, Sector 2, in Matseri village, Anka Local Government Area.
Military sources said the air strikes targeted over 400 terrorists, including several top bandit leaders, who had gathered in Makakkari Forest, which stretches across Anka and Bukuyum LGAs.
The combined operation reportedly neutralised over 100 terrorists, disrupted their planned retaliation against security forces, and scattered the rest of the group, many of whom escaped with gunshot wounds.
Troops on the ground also repelled attempts by the surviving bandits to return and recover the corpses of their fallen members. Heavy artillery fire was used to drive them back.
Clearance operations and patrols are still ongoing in the area to prevent the regrouping of the criminals and ensure the safety of nearby communities.
Zamfara State has been one of the hardest-hit areas in the North-West by armed banditry and terrorist activities in recent years, prompting continuous military action to restore peace and security.
