Troops under Operation WUTAN DAJI have cleared multiple bandits’ camps, rescued kidnapped victims, and recovered weapons during a coordinated offensive in Bauchi State.
The Nigerian Army disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
According to the statement, troops of the 33 Artillery Brigade Garrison, in collaboration with elements of the Brigade Headquarters and a team from the Office of the National Security Adviser, carried out clearance operations in Kumbodoro Forest and Kumbodoro Village.
The mission, led by the Commander of the 33 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General S.S. Shehu, targeted known bandit hideouts as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks in the area.
During the operation, several camps—including the notorious Azuge camps—were destroyed, while a number of bandits were neutralised. The troops also rescued eight kidnapped victims.
Recovered items from the enclaves included four skeletal rifles, four dane guns, an FN rifle magazine, an AK-47 magazine, communication devices, and other operational equipment.
Additional items recovered were boots, helmets, mobile phones, a power bank, a StarTimes decoder, ATM cards, identification materials, radio chargers, arrows, and several pairs of security agency uniforms, suggesting attempts by criminals to impersonate security personnel.
The Army said the operation, supported by the Air Component, significantly degraded the operational capacity of bandit groups in the Kumbodoro axis.
In a related development, troops deployed at Duguri, acting on credible intelligence and in collaboration with local vigilantes, recovered 36 cows at Mushen Kura Village. The livestock are believed to have been abandoned by fleeing bandits due to sustained military pressure.
Efforts are ongoing to identify and return the animals to their rightful owners.
The Army reaffirmed its commitment to restoring peace and security across affected regions through sustained, intelligence-driven operations and strategic collaboration.