The Nigerian Air Force has dealt a significant blow to banditry in Katsina State, following a successful airstrike on notorious criminal hideouts in the Unguwar Goga Hillforest, located in the Faskari Local Government Area. The operation, executed by the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma in the early hours of Thursday, targeted the fortified camps of two notorious bandit leaders, Gero (Alhaji) and Alhaji Riga.
A statement released on Friday by the Deputy Director of Public Relations and Information for the Nigerian Air Force, Group Captain Kabiru Ali, revealed that the airstrikes resulted in the neutralization of over 20 bandits, with additional casualties reported in the surrounding rocky hills. The operation was carried out following careful intelligence gathering, which ensured the strikes were both precise and effective.
Ali stated, “The Nigerian Air Force has delivered a devastating blow to banditry in Katsina State, as the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma executed a precision airstrike in the early hours of March 13, 2025, decimating notorious bandit hideouts in Unguwar Goga Hillforest, Ruwan Godiya Ward, Faskari Local Government Area.”
The targeted airstrike destroyed the camps of Gero and Alhaji Riga, two key figures responsible for widespread banditry in the region. These bandit leaders were known to provide shelter for terrorist groups, which were responsible for deadly ambushes along the Funtua-Gusau Road, especially between the Yankara and Sheme villages.
The statement further emphasized that the elimination of these criminal kingpins represents a significant victory in the ongoing military campaign aimed at restoring peace in the North-West region. Ali concluded by noting that the full extent of the damage caused by the airstrikes is still being assessed.
