Soldiers die as Army dismantles bandit network in Zamfara

Some soldiers have been confirmed dead in a fierce firefight with notorious bandits in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 8 Division Nigerian Army/Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, and posted on the Nigerian Army X handle, scores of bandits in the camp of notorious leader Gwaska Dan Karmi were neutralised during the confrontations.

Osoba said the operation was triggered by credible intelligence indicating that over 100 bandits had gathered at the camp to plan large-scale attacks on local communities and military supply lines.

“Following days of intensive surveillance, ground troops supported by the Nigerian Air Force intercepted the bandits on January 31, 2026,” the statement read.

“A fierce firefight ensued as the terrorists attempted a flanking and encirclement manoeuvre. However, they were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the troops.

“While many bandits were eliminated, others fled with gunshot wounds. The camp was set ablaze before the troops withdrew.”

Osoba added that the NAF is conducting interdiction missions to intercept fleeing bandits, while ground troops maintain dominance over the area.

“Regrettably, some gallant soldiers paid the supreme price during the fierce encounter, and one combat enabler vehicle was hit by the enemy’s Rocket-Propelled Grenade, which caught fire,” he said.

He added that the army honours the sacrifice of the fallen soldiers and remains determined in its mission.

“Combat efficiency remains high as troops continue to dismantle bandit networks and disrupt their supply chains across the region,” Osoba said.

The raid forms part of broader efforts under Operation FANSAN YAMMA to combat banditry in the region, where armed groups have terrorised communities through kidnappings, raids, and extortion. (Punch)