Troops of the 33 Artillery Brigade under Operation WUTAN DAJI have recorded a major operational breakthrough following a coordinated clearance operation in Kumbodoro Forest and Kumbodoro Village in Bauchi State.
The offensive, supported by air components, led to the dismantling of multiple bandit enclaves, including the notorious Azuge camps within the Kumbodoro Forest axis. Several suspected bandits were neutralised during the operation, while key hideouts were destroyed, significantly weakening criminal activities in the area.
Security sources confirmed that eight kidnapped victims were rescued alive during the clearance exercise.
A follow-up search of the destroyed enclaves led to the recovery of a cache of arms and equipment, including four skeletal rifles, four dane guns, one FN rifle magazine, one AK-47 magazine, communication devices, and other operational items. Additional recoveries included boots, helmets, a power bank, a StarTimes decoder, mobile phones, arrows, radio chargers, ATM cards linked to an online payment platform, photographs, an identity card, suspected security uniforms, and leg chains.
In a related development, troops stationed in Duguri, acting on credible intelligence, recovered 36 cattle at Mushen Kura Village in collaboration with local vigilantes. The livestock were believed to have been abandoned by fleeing bandits due to sustained military pressure. Efforts are ongoing to trace the rightful owners for possible return.
The Nigerian Army reiterated its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations and joint-force collaboration aimed at denying criminals safe havens and restoring lasting peace across affected communities.