Bloodbath In Terror Camps: NAF Strikes Kill Dozens In Niger!

Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets have carried out airstrikes that eliminated multiple terrorists.

Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets have carried out targeted airstrikes, neutralising numerous terrorists just two days after 17 soldiers were killed during a clash in the Bangi community, located in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.

In a statement issued on Friday, NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame revealed that the strikes were part of Operation FANSAN YAMMA Sector 1, a coordinated military campaign aimed at tackling terrorism and banditry in the northwest. The operation specifically targeted those responsible for the recent attacks.

According to Ejodame, from June 24 to 26, NAF conducted a series of precision strikes in coordination with ground forces. He noted that, “On June 26, based on credible intelligence and joint efforts with other military and security agencies, the NAF detected terrorist movements involving attacks and cattle rustling in Kakihun and Kumbashi communities. Swift deployment of air assets enabled multiple precision strikes that killed scores of terrorists, destroyed their supply lines, and disrupted their attempts to regroup.”

Defence Chief Intensifies Peace Efforts in Benue

In a related development, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, visited Benue State again in the wake of a series of deadly attacks by suspected bandits. The visit follows the recent killing of 147 civilians in Yelwata, a farming community in Guma Local Government Area, about two weeks ago.

Prompted by the growing insecurity, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu held a high-level stakeholders’ meeting at the Benue State Government House in Makurdi. He instructed heads of security agencies and the CDS to end the bloodshed and bring those responsible to justice.

A statement from the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, confirmed that General Musa returned to the state on June 26 to hold deeper consultations with key traditional rulers and elders. “During the engagement, the CDS reiterated the Armed Forces’ unwavering commitment to restoring peace and order in the region,” Gusau said.

The forum included the Tor Tiv, Ochidoma, and other first- and second-class chiefs from different parts of Benue State. It served as a platform for open dialogue on the root causes of the persistent violence, particularly attacks linked to suspected herdsmen.

General Musa explained that the meeting aligned with President Tinubu’s directive to collaborate with the Benue Council of Elders in identifying both immediate and underlying causes of the crisis and formulating effective strategies to resolve it.

Gusau noted that the CDS stressed the seriousness of the state’s security situation and the importance of joint solutions. He also referred to a recent top-level security meeting in Abuja involving Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, and the National Security Adviser as part of broader efforts to stabilize the region.

During the dialogue, the Tor Tiv, who chairs the Benue State Traditional Council, cited unchecked grazing on farmland and banditry by suspected herdsmen as key drivers of insecurity, which have displaced many residents to internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. He also expressed concern over the sidelining of traditional rulers in governance, despite their critical role in conflict resolution.

The advisory team, comprising Defence Headquarters personnel, local chiefs, and military officers, offered several proposals, including adopting cattle ranching as a sustainable alternative to nomadic grazing—a system believed to be fueling much of the conflict. “The chiefs urged the government to act with fairness and impartiality in addressing the crisis,” Gusau added.