Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
Troops of the 33 Artillery Brigade under Operation WUTAN DAJI have recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against banditry in Bauchi State.
In a coordinated clearance operation targeting Kumbodoro Forest and surrounding villages, the troops stormed and dismantled notorious bandit camps, including the feared Azuge hideouts, dealing a heavy blow to criminal networks in the area.
Backed by air support, several bandits were neutralised, their bases destroyed, and their operational capacity significantly weakened. In the process, eight kidnapped victims were successfully rescued.
A subsequent search of the area led to the recovery of a cache of weapons and equipment, including rifles, locally made guns, ammunition magazines, communication devices, and items linked to the bandits’ activities.
In a related development, troops operating in Duguri, working alongside local vigilantes, recovered 36 cows believed to have been abandoned by fleeing bandits under sustained military pressure. Efforts are ongoing to return the livestock to their rightful owners.
The Nigerian Army says it remains committed to restoring peace and stability, vowing to sustain intelligence-driven operations and deny criminal elements any safe haven.