Troops of the 33 Artillery Brigade under Operation Wutan Daji have destroyed suspected bandit hideouts in Kumbodoro Forest and Kumbodoro Village in Bauchi State, rescuing eight kidnapped victims and recovering weapons and other items.
The Nigerian Army said the operation targeted multiple bandit enclaves, including the notorious Azuge camps in the Kumbodoro Forest axis. Backed by the Air Component, the troops neutralised several bandits and dismantled key bases used by the criminal groups.
According to the Army, the raid dealt a major blow to bandit networks operating in the area and further weakened their ability to threaten lives and property.
A search of the camps led to the recovery of a cache of arms and equipment, including four skeletal rifles, four dane guns, one FN rifle magazine and one AK-47 magazine. Troops also recovered communication devices and other operational items.
Other items recovered from the enclaves included two pairs of boots, three helmets, one power bank, one StarTimes decoder, QJC meta links, one jackknife, six mobile phones, arrows, radio chargers, OPAY ATM cards, photographs, an identity card, several pairs of 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 livestock were believed to have been abandoned by fleeing bandits under sustained military pressure. Efforts are ongoing to identify the rightful owners and return the animals.
The Army said it remains committed to restoring peace and stability through intelligence-led operations, joint force coordination and strategic partnerships aimed at denying bandits and terrorists safe haven.
