Sustained Military Pressure Weakens Bandit Networks in Bauchi Forests

By: Zagazola Makama 

Troops under Operation WUTAN DAJI have intensified clearance operations in Bauchi State, neutralising bandits, dismantling camps and capturing family members of fleeing criminals.

Security sources said troops of 33 Artillery Brigade, led by the Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. S.S. Shehu, in collaboration with a team from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), conducted the operation in Dajin Madam forest.

Deep within the thick foliage of Dajin Madam forest in Bauchi State, the echoes of sustained military offensives are gradually replacing what was once a haven for banditry.

In recent months, intensified clearance operations under Operation WUTAN DAJI have begun to alter the security landscape, as troops push deeper into forest enclaves long occupied by criminal elements.

The latest operation, led by the Commander of 33 Artillery Brigade, Brig.-Gen. S.S. Shehu, in collaboration with a team from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), underscores a growing momentum in the fight against banditry.

Security sources indicate that multiple camps, including the notorious Azuge and Hari enclaves, were dismantled during the operation. These camps, often hidden within dense vegetation, had served as operational bases for attacks, abductions and logistics coordination.

What stands out in the latest offensive is not only the neutralisation of several bandits, but also the disruption of their support systems. The capture of six women and 13 children believed to be family members of fleeing fighters illustrates the extent to which these groups operate as close-knit, mobile communities within forest corridors.

They added that a number of the bandits were neutralised, while six women and 13 children believed to be family members of the criminals were captured.

Items recovered during the operation include one AK-47 magazine, packs of tramadol drugs, a pair of police uniform, several military uniforms and two horses.

The sources further disclosed that several motorcycles belonging to the bandits were destroyed during the operation.

They said troops are currently holding position within the forest to consolidate operational gains and prevent the regrouping of criminal elements.

“The presence of security uniforms in such camps is particularly concerning, as it raises the risk of infiltration or impersonation,” a security expert noted.

Beyond direct combat engagements, troops have also sustained follow-up operations through fighting patrols and area exploitation. 

A recent patrol to Mainamaji, following earlier air strikes on suspected hideouts, reported no unusual activity an indication that the pressure may be forcing bandits to abandon previously occupied territories.