By Joy Onu
Troops of the Nigerian Army operating under Operation WUTAN DAJI have dismantled multiple bandit hideouts during a clearance mission in Kumbodoro Forest and Kumbodoro Village in Bauchi State, in what military authorities describe as a major breakthrough against criminal elements in the area.
The coordinated ground offensive, carried out by personnel of the 33 Artillery Brigade, with air support, targeted entrenched camps believed to have been used for kidnappings and other violent activities. Several suspected bandits were neutralised during the encounter, while key operational bases were destroyed.
Military sources confirmed that eight kidnapped persons were rescued during the operation and have since been placed under medical observation for recovery and reunification with their families.
Following the clearance of the camps, troops conducted a sweep of the area, leading to the recovery of assorted weapons and equipment. Items recovered include rifles, dane guns, rifle magazines, communication gadgets, mobile phones, and other materials suspected to have been used in coordinating criminal operations.
Other recovered items included personal effects such as footwear, helmets, identity documents, power banks, a decoder, ATM cards, photographs, uniforms, and restraining chains, all of which are currently being examined for intelligence purposes.
In a related development, troops acting on intelligence in Duguri recovered 36 cattle in Mushen Kura Village with the assistance of local vigilante groups. The livestock are believed to have been abandoned by fleeing suspects following sustained military pressure in the region.
Authorities reaffirmed ongoing efforts to trace the rightful owners of the recovered animals, while reiterating the commitment of the armed forces to sustained intelligence-led operations aimed at denying criminal groups safe havens and restoring stability across affected communities.
