Troops of the 33 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army, under Operation Wutan Daji, have dismantled terrorists’ enclaves and strongholds during a coordinated clearance operation in Kumbodoro Forest and Kumbodoro Village, Bauchi State.
The Army said the operation, carried out with support from the Air Component, targeted bandit networks operating within the Kumbodoro Forest axis, including the notorious Azuge camps. According to the statement issued on Tuesday night, several bandits were neutralised, while key operational bases used by the criminals were destroyed.
The Army said the offensive dealt a major blow to the capacity of the groups to threaten lives and property in communities around the area. The operation also led to the rescue of eight kidnapped victims.
During a search of the dismantled camps, troops recovered several arms and operational items, including four skeletal rifles, four Dane guns, one FN rifle magazine, one AK-47 magazine and communication devices. Other recovered items included 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, security agency uniforms and leg chains.
In a related operation, troops deployed at Duguri, acting on credible intelligence and working with local vigilantes, recovered 36 cows at Mushen Kura Village.
The Army said the livestock were believed to have been abandoned by fleeing bandits following sustained military pressure. It added that efforts were ongoing to identify and return the animals to their rightful owners. The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to restoring peace and stability across all theatres of operation, saying it would continue to rely on intelligence-led operations, joint force collaboration and partnerships with local security groups to deny terrorists and bandits safe haven.
