The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has inflicted significant damage on armed bandits in the Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, eliminating multiple bandits during an airstrike. This event reportedly took place last Sunday between 4 pm and 5 pm. While the NAF has yet to officially comment on the situation, the targeted airstrike aimed at the bandits as they traversed areas including Yabawa, Bazana, Awallah, Dankolo, and Kumbashi, moving cattle that had been stolen from Ragada and nearby villages towards Kakihum. Additionally, the operation featured aerial bombardments that were coordinated with ground troops, resulting in numerous bandits being neutralized and others retreating in various directions. Sources indicate that ground forces from Rijau, Warari, and Gulbin Boka played a critical role in the operation by blocking escape routes and safeguarding local communities from potential retaliatory strikes. A Ragada resident, Usman Saidu, who had once been kidnapped by the bandits and taken towards Dankolo, later described how he narrowly escaped. He stated, “When the jet started bombing, God saved me, and that’s how I got away from them.” Residents in the region reported hearing several explosions, accompanied by large clouds of smoke and intermittent gunfire as the assailants fled. Locals praised the Nigerian Air Force, calling it the most effective military action in the face of the rising violence in Mariga and surrounding areas. Additionally, information obtained in the past week indicated that at least seven heavily armed factions were active in the Mariga, Rijau, and Magama local government areas, which led to the decision by the NAF to conduct airstrikes.