Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation WUTAN DAJI have recorded a major operational breakthrough following a coordinated clearance mission in Kumbodoro Forest and Kumbodoro Village, located in Bauchi State.
The operation, carried out by the 33 Artillery Brigade, targeted notorious bandit enclaves within the forest axis, including the feared Azuge camps.
According to a statement shared on the Nigerian Army’s Facebook page on Tuesday, the offensive dealt a significant blow to criminal networks operating in the area, disrupting their activities and weakening their capacity to carry out attacks.
Supported by the Air Component, troops successfully neutralised several bandits during the assault while dismantling key operational bases.
It was gathered that the operation also led to the rescue of eight kidnapped victims, marking a critical humanitarian success alongside the tactical gains.
The military noted that a thorough sweep of the cleared camps resulted in the recovery of a cache of weapons and equipment.
Items seized include four skeletal rifles, four dane guns, one FN rifle magazine, and one AK-47 magazine.
READ ALSO:Â Troops Repel Monguno Attack As IED Kills Commanding Officer, Six Soldiers
Troops also recovered communication devices and other materials believed to support the bandits’ operations.
Additional items found at the scene include two pairs of boots, three helmets, a power bank, a StarTimes decoder, multiple mobile phones, arrows, radio chargers, OPAY ATM cards, photographs, an identity card, and several security agency uniforms, raising concerns about impersonation tactics used by the criminals.
In a related development, troops deployed to Duguri, acting on credible intelligence and working alongside local vigilantes, recovered 36 cows at Mushen Kura Village.
The livestock are believed to have been abandoned by fleeing bandits under sustained military pressure. Authorities say efforts are ongoing to identify the rightful owners and facilitate their return.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to restoring peace and stability across affected regions, emphasising continued reliance on intelligence-driven operations, inter-agency collaboration, and community partnerships to deny bandits.
