Airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force have killed scores of suspected terrorists taking refuge in Alawa Forest in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
Disclosing this on Thursday, NAF said the airstrikes were executed by the air component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, a special offensive launched to flush terrorists out of the Northwest and North Central geo-political zones of the country.
NAF Director of Information and Public Relations (DOPRI), Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Olusola Akinboyewa, said in a statement that the operation also dismantled the terrorists’ logistics base in the forest
The statement read, “This operation, conducted on 21 January 2025, was based on credible intelligence and follow-up confirmatory aerial surveillance efforts which indicated an influx of armed terrorists into the forest.
“These criminals were linked to widespread violence, including two Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks on 19 December 2024 in Bassa, Shiroro LGA, which claimed several innocent lives.
“In response, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) launched a three-day sustained air operation, code-named KONAN DAJI, to degrade the terrorists’ capabilities and render the forest unhabitable for them.
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“To this end, AC OPFY dispatched a formation of fighter aircraft to execute air interdiction missions in the area. Upon arrival, the jets swiftly engaged the identified targets with precision strikes, neutralising numerous armed fighters and destroying their logistics base, as confirmed by multiple secondary explosions.
“The NAF, in close coordination with ground forces, remains resolute in its commitment to maintaining operational dominance across the region. Sustained efforts are underway to eliminate all criminal elements from Alawa Forest and surrounding areas, ensuring lasting peace and security for communities in Niger State and beyond.”
