The Nigerian military has dealt a major blow to terrorist activities in Zamfara State, eliminating more than 100 armed fighters during a joint air and ground offensive in Makakkari Forest, Bukuyum Local Government Area.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of Sunday, left the criminals’ motorcycles destroyed and their hideouts in ruins.
The assault followed weeks of intelligence gathering by operatives of Operation “FANSAN YAMMA” (OPFY), who had been monitoring unusual movements in the Sunke, Kirsa, and Barukushe areas—known strongholds for armed bandits. According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, intelligence reports revealed that over 400 fighters, led by notorious kingpins, had been assembling in Makakkari Forest.
Sources disclosed that the militants were preparing to launch an attack on Nasarawan Burkullu, a farming community in Bukuyum, to avenge a recent defeat at the hands of security forces and hybrid units. “They thought they could regroup, rearm, and launch another wave of terror,” a source said. “Instead, they walked straight into a well-laid trap.”
The offensive began with Nigerian Air Force aircraft conducting precision strikes on targets identified by reconnaissance drones. Eyewitnesses reported thick plumes of smoke rising from the forest as dozens of terrorists were taken out while attempting to flee on motorcycles—their main means of movement.
“Several notorious kingpins and scores of their foot soldiers met their waterloo before they could even fire a shot,” a security source confirmed. “Those who tried to escape were intercepted by our ground troops in a separate location.”
The coordinated air and ground strategy effectively dismantled the planned attack, neutralising many of the fighters before they could reach their target. The military has yet to confirm the exact identities of the slain kingpins but indicated that the operation was one of the most successful in the region this year.
Meanwhile, in Adafka village—also in Bukuyum—residents staged a protest, lying on the tyres of a military Hilux pickup truck and holding green leaves to block security forces. Witnesses said the vehicle was loaded with the villagers’ belongings, ready for evacuation from the area.
The protest underscored growing tension among communities caught in the crossfire, as locals demand stronger protection and assurances against reprisals from surviving terrorists. Military authorities have promised to maintain a strong presence in the area to prevent further attacks.
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