If you’ve been following Nigeria’s security landscape, you’ll know Zamfara State rarely leaves the headlines. For years, this region has grappled with some of the most resilient terrorist and bandit networks in West Africa. But on June 9, 2025, the Nigerian Army struck a significant blow — eliminating ten armed terrorists in a precision strike across Tsafe and Gusau local government areas. This fresh push is more than a news headline — it’s part of a broader, intensifying Zamfara offensive designed to reclaim rural communities, dismantle terror camps, and reinforce public trust.
This article breaks down exactly how the operation unfolded, the strategies behind it, voices from both the military and local communities, and what it means for the region’s fragile security future.
So, grab your attention and stay with me — this is what a turning point looks like on the ground.
Background of Zamfara’s Security Crisis
To appreciate the weight of this June 9 success, it helps to rewind a bit.
Zamfara’s troubles didn’t appear overnight. The state sits in Nigeria’s North-West — an expanse marked by rugged forests and porous borders. Over the past decade, poorly policed rural areas have become breeding grounds for heavily armed bandit gangs and terrorist cells. Initially, these groups were mostly cattle rustlers and local warlords; over time, they evolved into complex criminal enterprises, kidnapping civilians for ransom, ambushing security convoys, and taxing villagers in return for a fragile peace.
Local communities, stuck between surrendering to bandits or risking violent retaliation, often found little help from overwhelmed state authorities. Several peace deals were tried and abandoned — many bandit leaders reneged on amnesty agreements, regrouped, and returned stronger.
By 2023 and 2024, some bandit factions had morphed further — forging ties with foreign jihadist groups like ISGS (Islamic State in the Greater Sahara). This link allowed them access to more sophisticated arms trafficking routes and tactical know-how, shifting them from petty criminals to organized terror threats.
This grim evolution has driven repeated military surges — yet, sustainable security has remained elusive, forcing the government and military to rethink how to strike effectively while rebuilding trust with the people they aim to protect.
The Latest Offensive: What Happened on June 9
Let’s unpack the facts of this headline-grabbing strike.
On June 9, 2025, coordinated units under Operation Fasan Yamma — the Joint Task Force responsible for North-West counterterrorism — launched a targeted raid on terrorist enclaves near Tsafe and Gusau. Troops moved on identified hideouts in villages like Munhaye, Mai Tashi, and Dan Jigba.
In clear terms: ten terrorists were neutralized on the spot. Recovered items included AK-47 rifles, a Beretta sniper rifle, multiple magazines, several rounds of live ammunition, and sophisticated communication gadgets like Baofeng radios. Five motorcycles — a vital mobility tool for bandits — were destroyed to cripple any chance of regrouping or quick escape.
The strikes were not random. Military intelligence pinpointed these camps using tip-offs from local informants, aerial reconnaissance, and follow-up surveillance by ground agents. Troops encircled the target zones and stormed the sites with minimal collateral damage. After clearing operations, local communities were secured to prevent any retaliatory attack from fleeing cells.
How This Fits into the Wider Zamfara Offensive
This wasn’t an isolated raid — it’s a building block in a longer-term push.
The Zamfara offensive is Nigeria’s renewed security doctrine for the North-West. Unlike past efforts focused solely on large garrison deployments or peace deals, this strategy mixes:
• Rapid-response Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs)
• Precision airstrikes guided by on-ground intelligence
• Close civilian cooperation, encouraging residents to provide timely information about suspicious camps or movements
• Operation Safe Corridor, which runs in parallel, offering defectors a structured reintegration path back into society
It’s a multi-layered campaign designed to break the cycle of violence, plug cross-border arms routes, and create conditions for meaningful peace talks where feasible.
Recent Strikes and Key Gains
The June 9 operation is the latest milestone in a series of heavy blows dealt to terror networks this year.
In May 2025, coordinated airstrikes in the Maru–Zurmi axis killed over twenty terrorists and destroyed several motorcycles. In February, over fifty insurgents were eliminated in the rugged Tungan Fulani Hills, dismantling a notorious weapons smuggling corridor connecting deep forest camps to illegal arms markets across Niger Republic.
Just days after the June 9 strike, Mobile Strike Teams operating in Kunchin Kalgo (Tsafe LGA) killed Auta, a high-profile terrorist commander, alongside Abdul Jamilu and Salisu. Two other notorious bandit leaders — Babaye and Sarki — were neutralized near Danjibga, cutting off leadership pipelines for smaller splinter groups.
Each of these raids reinforces the government’s claim that terrorists can no longer hide comfortably in Zamfara’s forests — every hideout is now a target.
Voices from the Front: Official Statements
These victories are echoed in the official words of those leading the fight.
The Nigerian Army described the June 9 operation as a “decisive blow” that showcased what is possible when troops, local intelligence, and modern surveillance work in tandem.
Operation Fasan Yamma’s spokesperson, Lt. Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, emphasized that community cooperation was vital, noting that actionable intelligence directly guided troops to the hideouts.
Meanwhile, Major General E.V. Onumajuru, representing the Defence Headquarters, reinforced that while kinetic (combat) operations are vital, the non-kinetic approach — through Operation Safe Corridor — ensures that defectors have a genuine path back to civilian life.
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara has balanced support for tough military measures with calls for improved targeting protocols to avoid civilian harm, especially after recent tragic airstrike misfires. He praised the military’s responsiveness but insisted that restoring trust requires continuous dialogue with local communities and vigilante groups.
Local Community & Civil Response
The people on the receiving end of this crisis have mixed emotions.
In Anka and Tsafe, village elders and traditional rulers have praised the army’s bravery and expressed renewed hope that safe farming and open markets might return if the offensive continues.
Yet there’s lingering tension. Recent airstrikes in Maru and Zurmi mistakenly hit vigilante groups and civilians, leading to casualties and sparking protests. Many villagers demand real-time coordination — warning systems, clearly marked evacuation corridors, and closer consultation with local leaders before air operations commence.
Governor Lawal has publicly condoled affected families and pledged compensation while reaffirming that security operations must be smarter, not just stronger.
In markets and community meetings, people repeatedly say they want terrorists gone for good — but they want to survive the solution too.
What’s Next for the Zamfara Offensive
So, what lies ahead?
Recent intelligence points to new target zones: Tsafe remains a hotspot, but future sweeps will focus on Shinkafi, Zurmi, Maru, and Isa — all areas notorious for deep forest hideouts and border escape routes.
Mobile Strike Teams will remain the frontline force, supported by airstrikes executed with tighter civilian coordination to avoid tragic misfires. Cross-border surveillance with Niger and tighter monitoring of known smuggling routes will keep arms supplies scarce for remaining cells.
Politically, the Defence Ministry, Governor Lawal, and the new Safe Corridor headquarters for the North-West are shaping a joint approach — matching battlefield wins with deradicalisation programs and community reintegration to weaken any chance of terrorists recruiting fresh foot soldiers.
Still, challenges persist. Key bandit warlords like Bello Turji and Dogo Gide remain alive and have a history of regrouping after strikes. Also, jihadist-linked cells continue to push propaganda in nearby Sokoto and Kebbi, seeking to radicalize vulnerable youths.
To truly break this cycle, military power must stay one step ahead while local governance and community trust deepen alongside it.
The fresh Zamfara operation that ended ten terrorists’ lives on June 9 is more than a tactical headline — it’s a statement of intent.
It proves that with the right blend of accurate intelligence, rapid deployment, air-ground synergy, and genuine local buy-in, Nigeria can dismantle even the most entrenched terror camps in its North-West.
However, success won’t be measured solely by how many hideouts are destroyed. It will be seen in how many families can farm without fear, how many children can sleep through the night without gunfire, and how well soldiers and civilians can trust each other to rebuild a region scarred by years of violence.
The road ahead is complex. But for the first time in a long while, people from Gusau to Tsafe are daring to hope that this offensive could be the blueprint for a safer Zamfara — and perhaps, a safer Nigeria.
If you found this deep dive valuable, feel free to discuss, question, and stay informed. Peace and security thrive best when citizens remain engaged.
