The Nigerian Air Force, in a major coordinated operation with ground troops, has killed dozens of armed bandits, including several of their most feared leaders, in Zamfara State.

The military said the strike targeted Makakkari forest — a notorious hideout for gangs behind high-profile kidnappings and deadly raids in the region. Surveillance had earlier detected more than 400 armed gang members gathering to attack a nearby village.

Air strikes rained down on their positions, while ground forces intercepted and eliminated those trying to flee. According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the operation “neutralized several notorious kingpins and scores of their foot soldiers.”

Over the past two weeks, the gangs have unleashed a wave of violence in north-west Nigeria, killing civilians, kidnapping villagers for ransom, and ambushing security forces — leaving at least 13 officers dead.

The criminal groups, increasingly working alongside jihadist insurgents from the north-east, have turned kidnapping into a booming business. While the military has launched several offensives — including one last month that killed 95 gunmen — the threat has persisted, forcing the government to keep up pressure on the gangs.