Scores of Bandits Killed in Zamfara as Nigerian Army Intensifies Security Operations
The Nigerian Army has announced that scores of bandits were killed in a coordinated military operation in Zamfara State, part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on criminal networks terrorising communities in the North-West.
According to Lt. Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 8 Division and Sector 2 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, troops engaged a large group of suspected armed bandits at a camp in Maru Local Government Area after credible intelligence indicated more than 100 fighters had gathered to plan attacks on local settlements and military logistics routes.
The operation, launched on January 31, 2026, saw Nigerian Army ground forces, supported by assets from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), storm the hideout following days of surveillance. A fierce firefight ensued as bandits attempted to flank the advancing troops, but they were reportedly overwhelmed by the superior training and firepower of the military.
Many of the criminals were neutralised during the clash, while others fled with gunshot wounds. The military set the camp ablaze before withdrawing tactically to consolidate gains and prevent regrouping.
The statement also acknowledged that the army recorded casualties, including the loss of some soldiers in the line of duty and damage to a combat-enabled vehicle struck by a rocket-propelled grenade.
Following the offensive, the NAF continues interdiction missions to track down and eliminate bandits escaping the area, while ground troops maintain control to deny criminal elements freedom of movement.
The military’s announcement comes amid broader federal efforts to suppress banditry and terrorism across north-western Nigeria, where repeated assaults on villages, abductions and clashes with security forces have created persistent insecurity.
