The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) unleashed a barrage of airstrikes on February 22, 2025, obliterating bandit hideouts in eastern Shinkafi Local Government Area and neutralizing scores of armed criminals, including key figures linked to the notorious Kachallah Haru. The devastating raids mark a significant escalation in the military’s campaign to dismantle bandit networks terrorizing Zamfara’s rural communities.
Intelligence sources briefed Zagazola Makama, revealing that the precision strikes zeroed in on Katsira Forest and extended to Fakai Forest—longstanding sanctuaries for bandits plaguing the region. “The air raids targeted the residence of a notorious bandit leader, Kachallah Haru,” the sources confirmed, pinpointing the operation’s focus on a figure whose reign of violence has destabilized local life. Ground security personnel corroborated the strikes’ impact, noting that “multiple bandits were neutralized in the air bombardment, while their livestock and logistics were destroyed,” dealing a crippling blow to their operational capacity.
Truth Live News gathered that the bombardment razed hideouts that had served as bases for attacks on villages, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. A senior military officer, speaking anonymously, disclosed that the offensive was far from over. “Surveillance operations were still ongoing to track and eliminate fleeing bandits,” he told Makama, signaling a relentless pursuit to ensure no remnants regroup. The officer’s words underscore a broader strategy to root out banditry from Zamfara’s rugged terrain, where dense forests have long provided cover for criminal enclaves.
The Nigerian Armed Forces have doubled down on their resolve, with officials vowing to sustain the pressure. “The Nigerian Armed Forces have vowed to continue their offensive against terrorists and bandits, ensuring peace and security in the region,” sources affirmed, reflecting a commitment echoed across military ranks. This latest operation builds on a series of air and ground assaults aimed at reclaiming control from armed groups that have kidnapped, killed, and extorted residents with impunity.
For the people of Shinkafi, the airstrikes offer a glimmer of hope amid years of terror. Katsira and Fakai Forests, once symbols of bandit dominance, now lie in ruins—their shelters and resources reduced to ash. The neutralization of Kachallah Haru’s operatives strikes at the heart of a network blamed for countless atrocities, though the elusive leader’s fate remains unconfirmed. The destruction of livestock and logistics further weakens the bandits’ ability to sustain themselves, potentially forcing survivors into the open where military surveillance awaits.
As the dust settles over the smoldering remains, the NAF’s actions send a clear message: no sanctuary is safe for those preying on Zamfara’s communities. Yet, the ongoing hunt for fleeing bandits hints at the challenges ahead in a region scarred by violence and economic despair. With the Armed Forces pledging an unrelenting campaign, residents watch cautiously, yearning for a lasting peace that has eluded them for too long. The skies over Shinkafi may have roared with retribution, but the ground battle for security presses on.