The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has dealt a significant blow to terrorism in Niger State with a targeted airstrike that eliminated Mallam Saleh, a notorious bandit leader, and destroyed a major arms depot in Palele, Shiroro Local Government Area.
The operation, conducted on November 16 under Operation Fansan Yamma, followed weeks of intelligence gathering that pinpointed Saleh’s movements and the location of his stronghold. Saleh, a close ally of infamous bandit leader Dogo Gide, had been a key figure in orchestrating attacks, abductions, and extortion across Shiroro.
Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, confirmed the success of the mission in a statement released Monday. “Mallam Saleh’s reign of terror brought untold hardship to vulnerable communities in Shiroro. This operation was meticulously planned and executed to dismantle his network and weaken the operational capabilities of his group,” Akinboyewa explained.
During the operation, NAF aircraft identified a group of terrorists on motorcycles near the target area. Precision strikes were launched, resulting in the destruction of Saleh’s weapons cache. Secondary explosions confirmed the obliteration of the depot, further crippling the group’s logistics.
The airstrikes, which were coordinated with ground forces, mark a critical step in the military’s broader strategy to degrade terrorist infrastructure and restore peace to affected regions. “The impact of this mission is significant, not only in neutralizing a high-value target but also in ensuring the protection of innocent lives,” Akinboyewa added.
Residents of Shiroro have long been terrorized by bandits under Saleh’s leadership, enduring relentless attacks and the destruction of livelihoods. With his death, communities in the region may see much-needed respite as security forces continue to push against the remnants of bandit groups.
The NAF reiterated its commitment to sustaining air dominance, enhancing real-time intelligence, and coordinating with ground troops to secure vulnerable communities and eliminate threats to national security.
