By Joy Odor
Troops of the 8 Division, Nigerian Army, operating under Sector 2 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have smashed one of the most feared bandit enclaves in the North-West, storming the stronghold of notorious kingpin Gwaska Dan Karmi and neutralising scores of armed fighters in a ferocious battle.
The high-impact operation, carried out on January 31, 2026, followed actionable intelligence that more than 100 bandits had converged at the camp to plan coordinated assaults on surrounding communities and military supply routes.
Military sources said troops placed the hideout under days of intensive surveillance, mapping movement patterns and escape routes before launching a coordinated ground-and-air assault backed by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
As troops closed in, the bandits launched a desperate counterattack, attempting to flank and encircle advancing forces. What followed was a prolonged and brutal firefight.
But the attempt collapsed under superior firepower, discipline and air support.
By the end of the engagement, scores of bandits lay dead, while others fled into surrounding forests with gunshot wounds.
Troops subsequently set the camp ablaze, destroying weapons caches, logistics hubs and command infrastructure before tactically withdrawing.
The operation did not end on the ground.
NAF aircraft immediately launched interdiction missions, hunting down fleeing remnants and cutting off escape corridors, while ground troops tightened their grip on the area to prevent regrouping.
The Nigerian Army confirmed that the victory came at a cost.
Some gallant soldiers paid the supreme price during the intense exchange of fire, underscoring the dangers faced daily by troops on the frontlines.
In addition, one combat enabler vehicle was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fired by the bandits, causing it to catch fire.
Military authorities paid tribute to the fallen soldiers, describing their sacrifice as a cornerstone of the ongoing fight to dismantle bandit networks across the region.
Despite the losses, commanders said combat efficiency remains high, with troops sustaining pressure on armed groups, severing supply chains and denying criminals safe havens.
Operation FANSAN YAMMA has intensified across the North-West, targeting high-value leaders, camps and logistics routes.
Security analysts say the destruction of Gwaska Dan Karmi’s camp represents a major blow to bandit command and coordination structures, weakening their capacity to launch large-scale attacks.
Military sources vowed that operations would continue until remaining elements are flushed out and neutralised.
As air and ground forces maintain dominance in the area, the message from the battlefield is unambiguous: safe havens are collapsing, and the era of untouchable bandit kingpins is ending.
