April 14, (THEWILL) — Troops of the Nigerian Army have recorded a significant operational breakthrough in Bauchi State following a coordinated clearance mission under the ongoing Operation WUTAN DAJI, during which notorious bandit camps were dismantled, eight kidnapped victims were rescued, arms were recovered, and livestock were successfully retrieved.
The operation, carried out by troops of the 33 Artillery Brigade, targeted Kumbodoro Forest and Kumbodoro Village in Bauchi State, areas identified as operational hideouts for armed bandit groups.
Acting on credible intelligence and supported by air components, the troops launched a sustained offensive that dislodged criminal elements from multiple enclaves, including the notorious Azuge camps within the forest axis.
A statement issued on Tuesday by the Nigerian Army confirmed that the combined air and ground assault inflicted heavy losses on the bandits, leading to the destruction of their operational bases and significantly degrading their capacity to launch attacks on surrounding communities. The operation also resulted in the successful rescue of eight kidnapped victims who were held captive in the dismantled camps.
Following the clearance mission, troops conducted detailed search-and-sweep operations within the forest, leading to the recovery of a cache of arms, ammunition, and communication equipment. Recovered items include four skeletal rifles, four dane guns, one FN rifle magazine, one AK-47 magazine, communication devices, and other operational materials used by the criminal groups.
In addition to the weapons, troops recovered several personal and logistical items suspected to have been used by the bandits. These include two pairs of boots, three helmets, a power bank, a StarTimes decoder, QJC meta links, a jackknife, six mobile phones, arrows, radio chargers, OPAY ATM cards, photographs, an identity card, multiple pairs of security agency uniforms, and leg chains.
In a related development, troops deployed at Duguri, acting on credible intelligence and in collaboration with local vigilantes, recovered 36 cattle at Mushen Kura Village. Security sources indicated that the livestock were likely abandoned by fleeing bandits following sustained military pressure in the area. Efforts are ongoing to identify and return the animals to their rightful owners.
The Army reiterated its commitment to sustaining aggressive, intelligence-driven operations across all theatres of operation, emphasising that ongoing collaboration with sister services and local communities remains central to restoring lasting peace and security.
Authorities assured residents of Bauchi State and neighbouring communities that sustained military presence and coordinated operations will continue to deny criminal elements any safe haven, while consolidating gains in the broader fight against banditry and violent crime in the region.
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