…insiders confirmed that the NAF caught the celebrants off-guard during the peak of festivities.
ZAMFARA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times| In a major offensive against armed banditry, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday launched a deadly airstrike on a mass wedding ceremony believed to be attended by top bandit leaders and their foot soldiers in Asaula Hills, Yankuzo ward of Tsafe Local Government Area, Zamfara State.
The strike, executed around 4:00 PM, was carried out by the air component of Operation FANSAR YANMA, under the coordination of the Sector 2 Command of the Nigerian Air Force.
According to military sources, the operation followed credible human and technical intelligence that dozens of notorious bandits were converging at the secluded Asaula Hilltop, a known bandit enclave, for a grand wedding celebration.
The bridegroom was reportedly a senior fighter from a faction operating between Faskari and Kankara LGAs in neighbouring Katsina State. Informants alerted security forces that guests included fighters from Gusau, Zurmi, Shinkafi, Tsafe, and parts of Kaduna State.
Reconnaissance missions carried out using aerial surveillance drones identified the heavy movement of motorcycles and armed men entering the remote area, paving the way for a precision airstrike.
Eyewitnesses and and military insiders confirmed that the NAF caught the celebrants off-guard during the peak of festivities. At least 100 motorcycles were spotted at the location. The strike reportedly unleashed multiple missile rounds on the area, causing an inferno and widespread destruction.
“The NAF jet circled briefly, then released the bombs. It was loud and terrifying. People were screaming, and many ran in different directions,” a local informant shared.
Although official casualty numbers are yet to be confirmed, sources say dozens of bandits were killed instantly, with some burnt beyond recognition.
Local vigilantes reported seeing at least 10 corpses retrieved by nightfall, while 33 injured fighters were transported on motorcycles and in carts to Yankuzo Comprehensive Health Centre and nearby hamlets.
Medical sources indicated that some of the wounded were in critical condition, and most were being treated by unlicensed health workers, raising concerns about the risk of infection and the possibility of some escaping with untreated wounds.
Residents of nearby communities expressed relief and fear-relieved that the bandits were struck, but afraid of potential reprisal attacks.
“This place has suffered a lot. If the NAF had not acted, these people would have returned to kidnap more people after the wedding,” a Yankuzo resident said under anonymity.
Military experts see the operation as part of a renewed strategy to dismantle high-value targets in terrorist networks by disrupting social functions and logistical gatherings.
Security analysts and local vigilantes have urged the military to conduct follow-up ground operations to comb the surrounding bush paths, caves, and hideouts where some of the fleeing bandits are believed to be recovering or hiding.
They warn that failure to secure the area may allow the wounded to regroup, and the high-profile targets to escape justice.
“Air strikes are good, but they must be followed by boots on the ground. These forests are too vast to leave unattended after such a blow,” said a retired officer familiar with operations in Zamfara.
The NAF comes as part of Nigeria’s broader counterinsurgency campaign in the Northwest, where armed bandits and terror groups have established strongholds.
Over the past three years, Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, and Sokoto States have witnessed mass abductions, village raids, and assassinations, forcing thousands of residents into IDP camps and crippling local economies.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has repeatedly pledged a zero-tolerance policy on insecurity, and Tuesday’s operation is seen as a bold move in line with that promise.
As of press time, neither the NAF nor the Defence Headquarters has issued a formal statement. However, insiders suggest that a post-operation assessment is underway and that further details may soon be released to the public.
The operation is expected to spark discussions on intelligence sharing, civilian safety, and the psychological warfare dimension of striking criminal groups during ceremonial events.
