In a significant escalation of counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria’s North-West, joint military forces have conducted a series of precision strikes, eliminating more than 23 armed bandits across Kano and Katsina states. This operation, conducted between January 1st and 3rd, 2026, underscores a shift towards proactive, intelligence-driven warfare aimed at dismantling terrorist networks before they can strike civilian populations.
The offensive, codenamed Operation Fansan Yamma, was launched in direct response to actionable intelligence. According to a high-level military source speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the operation’s initial phase targeted bandits in the Shanono and Tsanyawa Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kano State. The trigger was intelligence indicating that these groups were gathering for the burial of comrades killed in prior clashes in the Dan Marke area of Matazu LGA—a moment of vulnerability exploited by security forces.
The tactical execution of this operation provides a textbook example of modern, integrated warfare. The critical breakthrough came from an Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission deployed by Sector 2 Operations Control. This ISR asset tracked a large contingent of approximately 50 motorcycles carrying bandits, monitoring their movement in real-time. The operatives waited patiently until a subgroup of about 20 motorcycles converged at a strategic choke point: a dried river line near Karaduma Village in Matazu LGA, Katsina State. This location, likely chosen by the bandits for its concealment, became a fatal trap.
At approximately 1711 hours on January 3rd, the Air Component of the operation executed a decisive “Dragon” airstrike on the assembled group. The term “Dragon” typically refers to a precision munition or a specific close air support protocol designed to inflict maximum casualties on concentrated enemy forces with minimal collateral damage. The strike was successful, with ground sources confirming the neutralization of 23 combatants. While the full extent of the bandits’ equipment losses remains unspecified, such strikes often destroy motorcycles, weapons caches, and communication gear, severely degrading the group’s operational capacity for weeks or months.
This operation is not an isolated event but part of a broader strategic context. The North-West region of Nigeria has long been plagued by banditry—a complex crisis involving kidnapping for ransom, cattle rustling, and village raids that has displaced hundreds of thousands. The effectiveness of this mission highlights the military’s increasing reliance on:
1. Human Intelligence (HUMINT): The initial tip about the burial gathering.
2. Technological Integration: Using ISR to track mobile targets over difficult terrain.
3. Joint Operations: Seamless coordination between ground troops and the air force for kinetic strikes.
4. Psychological Operations: Striking during a burial disrupts morale and signals that no moment is safe for these groups.
The military source emphasized that the general security situation in Kano State remains calm in the aftermath, with troops maintaining a heightened state of vigilance. However, analysts caution that while such tactical victories are crucial, the long-term solution requires a complementary “kinetic and non-kinetic” approach. This includes addressing the root causes of banditry—such as poverty, lack of opportunity, and weak local governance—and fortifying communities to prevent reprisal attacks, which often follow successful military operations.
This coordinated onslaught represents a clear message to terrorist and bandit groups: the security forces are leveraging superior intelligence and firepower to take the fight directly to their sanctuaries. The coming weeks will be critical in assessing whether this momentum can be sustained to create lasting security for the region’s beleaguered residents.
Report by Sumaila Ogbaje for NAN. Edited by Yakubu Uba.
Source: NAN News
