The bandits’ camps were discovered in Doumborou, Sububu, West Malamawa, Baturia Pond, Kagara Forest, Kamarawa, Kunduma and Rugu Forest areas of the state.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has destroyed bandits' hideout in Zamfara State and killed scores in an airstrike carried out in the location.
Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday, revealing that eight camps were wiped out in the operation by the Air Task Force for Operation Diran Mikiya.
The bandits’ camps were discovered in Doumborou, Sububu, West Malamawa, Baturia Pond, Kagara Forest, Kamarawa, Kunduma and Rugu Forest areas of the state.
The Air Force also revealed that additional fighter jets had been deployed in the North-West for air interdiction missions.
He said: “The air strikes were intensified on Monday with the deployment of additional aircraft aimed at flushing out the bandits from their hideouts in Sububu, Rugu and Kagara forests.
“On the first day of the operation, the ATF conducted coordinated air raids against multiple identified bandits’ hideouts at Doumborou, Sububu, West Malamawa, Baturia Pond and Rugu Forest, where several bandits were neutralised and their camps destroyed.
“On Tuesday, the ATF conducted waves of attacks against three other locations. In all, we degraded eight camps and neutralised scores of bandits.
“Reports indicate that, as a result of the air strikes, some bandits are fleeing towards the border between Nigeria and the Niger Republic. Accordingly, the ATF is liaising with relevant authorities to ensure that the bandits are prevented from escaping through the southern part of Niger Republic.”
The Air Force said it was working with the ground forces and other agencies to sustain efforts at ending banditry in the North-West region.