The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has successfully eliminated numerous terrorists and also destroyed a major arms depot during airstrikes conducted on November 16, 2024, in Palele, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The operation, carried out by the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma, also targeted the residence of notorious bandit kingpin, Mallam Saleh, a known loyalist of Dogo Gide.

Saleh has been a major figure in the terror network responsible for relentless attacks, abductions, and extortion in Shiroro communities.

A statement from Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, detailed the operation, “Saleh’s reign of terror brought untold hardship to vulnerable communities in Shiroro. However, the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma, leveraging critical intelligence, tracked his movements and meticulously planned this strike to dismantle his operations.”

The operation unfolded with NAF aircraft identifying terrorists on motorcycles in the target area.

“With swift and precise action, the NAF assets unleashed devastating strikes, destroying Saleh’s weapons cache and dealing a severe blow to the terrorists. A secondary explosion confirmed the obliteration of the munitions, effectively crippling their capabilities,” the statement added.

This mission aligns with the NAF’s logistics strangulation strategy, which focuses on dismantling terrorist infrastructure to restore peace in affected regions.

NAF emphasized its commitment to collaboration with ground forces, maintaining air dominance through regular patrols, real-time situational awareness, and precision interdictions.

“The impact of this mission is significant, degrading the terrorists’ operational capabilities and enhancing the protection of innocent lives,” Akinboyewa said.