Key Points
- Airstrikes killed over 30 terrorists in Zamfara.
- Military says wedding gathering was strategic hit.
- Operation aimed at degrading terror networks in North.
Nigeria’s military carried out a series of airstrikes over the weekend that killed more than 30 terrorists attending a wedding ceremony in the country’s restive Zamfara State, in what authorities described as a precision operation based on credible intelligence.
The strikes, executed by the Nigerian Air Force under Operation Hadarin Daji, targeted a gathering of high-profile terror suspects affiliated with notorious bandit groups responsible for kidnappings, killings, and raids across the northwest region.
The ceremony, held deep in the forests around Zurmi Local Government Area, was said to have drawn several top commanders of the groups, according to a report by Vanguard news
Airstrikes target terrorists gathered for celebration
According to military sources who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the operation, the air raids were launched after intelligence revealed the convergence of terror leaders for the wedding of one of their top fighters.
“The success of this mission underscores the effectiveness of recent intelligence-sharing and coordination among security agencies,” one senior military official said. “This was not just any social event—it was a strategic opportunity to eliminate key actors in the ongoing insurgency.”
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has yet to issue an official casualty figure, but local security analysts and community leaders have corroborated the report, saying dozens of bodies were recovered following the strike.
Military says Zamfara strike was intelligence-led
Zamfara has long been a hotspot for banditry and terrorism, with criminal gangs operating from vast forest enclaves.
The Nigerian military has ramped up air and ground operations in the region in recent months, aiming to dislodge entrenched terror groups and restore civilian control.
Officials say the latest airstrikes form part of a broader campaign to decimate the leadership structures of the groups, many of whom operate under shifting alliances and names but share resources and arms.
“These airstrikes are strategic blows against their leadership,” said Tukur Rufa’i, a security researcher at the Centre for Counterterrorism in Abuja. “It sends a message: nowhere is safe, not even your wedding.”
Over 30 killed in targeted wedding bombing
While details are still surfacing, early indications suggest the bombing was one of the most successful in recent months, with minimal collateral damage reported. Civilian casualties, often a major concern in such operations, were said to be avoided due to the isolated nature of the gathering.
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal praised the military’s action, calling it “a crucial step toward peace in the region.” He also urged ongoing engagement between locals and the military forces to uncover and disrupt extremist networks.
The Nigerian government has been under pressure to boost up counterterrorism measures, particularly in the north, where terrorist and criminal forces have afflicted rural areas. The effectiveness of operations like this may offer a glimpse of what persistent intelligence-led strikes could achieve.
