NAF Airstrikes Target Notorious Bandit Camp in Zamfara
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), in coordination with the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA Sector 2, has conducted precision airstrikes on the camp of notorious bandit kingpin, Alhaji Bello, in Gando Forest, Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The operation was carried out in the early hours of Thursday, August 6, 2026, targeting the criminal enclave located deep inside the forest.
Alhaji Bello is reportedly a prominent bandit leader with alleged links to Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a militant organisation operating across parts of the Sahel region.
Security sources said Bello and some members of his group were believed to have undergone training with JNIM in the production and use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The group has also allegedly been involved in planting explosives along rural routes in parts of Anka Local Government Area.
Preliminary information from local sources indicated that the airstrikes inflicted significant damage on the camp, with several terrorists reportedly killed in the operation.
Residents in neighbouring communities were said to have heard about five loud explosions from the direction of Gando Forest at approximately 6:00 a.m. The operation reportedly brought relief to residents who have faced threats from criminal elements operating in the area.
The latest air operation forms part of ongoing efforts by the Nigerian military to identify and destroy terrorist and bandit strongholds, disrupt their logistics and command structures, and deny criminal groups the freedom to operate across Zamfara and other parts of the North-West.
The NAF, working alongside ground forces under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, is expected to sustain intelligence-led air operations aimed at degrading the capabilities of armed groups and improving security for communities across the region.
NAF Airstrikes Target Notorious Bandit Camp in Zamfara