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 decimating notorious bandit hideouts in Unguwar Goga Hillforest
NAF Airstrike – It has been reported by the Nigerian Air Force that airstrikes carried out by operators in Katsina State have completely destroyed notorious criminal hideouts in the Unguwar Goga Hill forest, which is located in the Ruwan Godiya Ward of the Faskari Local Government Area of the state.
Gero (Alhaji) and Alhaji Riga, two infamous bandit kingpins, were the targets of the operation, which was carried out by the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The operation attempted to target their fortified encampment. The airstrikes effectively neutralized over twenty bandits, according to a statement released on Friday evening by Group Captain Kabiru Ali, the Deputy Director of Public Relations and Information for the Nigerian Air Force. Furthermore, the surrounding rocky hills recorded additional casualties.
It reads, “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 early hours of 13 March 2025, decimating notorious bandit hideouts in Unguwar Goga Hillforest, Ruwan Godiya Ward, Faskari Local Government Area.
“The airstrikes, which preceded careful and actionable intelligence advancing purposeful lethality, destroyed the fortified camps of notorious bandit kingpins, Gero (Alhaji) and Alhaji Riga, neutralising over 20 criminals, with additional casualties reported in the surrounding rocky hills.
“The airstrike had a decisive impact on the criminals, assessment of the full extent of the damage is ongoing.”
Ali stated that Riga and Gero were significant facilitators of banditry in the region. They provided a safe haven for terrorist forces that were responsible for deadly ambushes along the Funtua-Gusau Road, notably between the villages of Yankara and Sheme.