The Nigerian Army has announced that troops of the 33 Artillery Brigade under Operation Wutan Daji have recorded a major operational success following a coordinated clearance operation in Kumbodoro Forest and Kumbodoro Village, Bauchi State.
In a statement released on Tuesday via its official Facebook handle, the Army said the offensive dealt a significant blow to bandit networks operating in the area.
According to the statement, troops successfully cleared multiple bandit enclaves, including the notorious Azuge camps within the Kumbodoro Forest axis.
Supported by the Air component, the troops neutralised several bandits and dismantled key operational bases, weakening the criminals’ capacity to threaten lives and property.
The operation also led to the rescue of eight kidnapped victims.
A subsequent search of the enclaves resulted in 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.
Other items recovered included two pairs of boots, three helmets, a power bank, a StarTimes decoder, QJC metal links, a jackknife, six mobile phones, arrows, radio chargers, ATM cards, photographs, an identity card, several security uniforms and leg chains.
In a related development, troops deployed at Duguri, acting on credible intelligence, recovered 36 cows at Mushen Kura Village in collaboration with local vigilantes.
The Army said the livestock were abandoned by fleeing bandits due to sustained military pressure, adding that efforts were ongoing to return them to their rightful owners.
The Army reaffirmed its commitment to restoring peace and stability through intelligence-driven operations and strategic partnerships aimed at denying criminals a safe haven.
Meanwhile, the Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the death of a vigilante member following an ambush by suspected bandits at Yankari Game Reserve on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
The command’s spokesperson, Nafiu Habib, disclosed in a statement that a joint patrol team comprising police officers from Mai-Ari Outpost and local vigilantes came under attack along the Bakin Layi axis of the reserve.
He said the victim, Hambali Alhaji Sa’adu, 27, sustained fatal gunshot wounds during the attack and was later confirmed dead by a doctor.
His remains were subsequently buried in accordance with Islamic rites.
“The security team regrouped after the attack, trailed the assailants and engaged them in a gun battle, forcing the bandits to retreat with suspected injuries.
“The operation led to the arrest of four suspects, who are currently in custody, undergoing investigation,” Habib said.
The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, commiserated with the family of the deceased and described him as a brave patriot who paid the ultimate price in defence of his community.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling banditry and directed intensified bush-combing operations around Yankari Game Reserve and adjoining forests to apprehend fleeing suspects and recover illegal arms.
The police also urged residents, particularly those in rural communities, to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest security formation.
