Troops of the Nigerian Army have killed two armed bandits during an offensive against criminal groups terrorising Plateau State, destroying several camps used by the criminals as hideouts.
The two bandits were killed after soldiers engaged the armed group in a gun battle. The troops reportedly overwhelmed the criminals with superior firepower, forcing the surviving members to flee into the surrounding forest.
It was gathered on Monday that the operation took place yesterday in Dajin Madam Forest, which stretches across Kanam and Wase Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
A security source disclosed that the offensive was launched at about 11:00 pm. by troops of the Army’s 33 Artillery Brigade.
Subsequently, the soldiers cleared five identified locations where the criminals had established camps and destroyed structures used to sustain their activities.
During a subsequent encounter at about 3:41 a.m., the troops came under contact with the armed bandits and engaged them in a firefight.
Bloodstains were later discovered along the routes used by the fleeing criminals, suggesting that additional members of the group may have sustained gunshot injuries.
The source said the military operation also led to the recovery of ammunition, communication equipment, mobility assets and other logistical supplies believed to have been used by the criminal group.
He added that the destruction of the camps and associated facilities had disrupted the bandits’ operational infrastructure and denied them access to established hideouts within the forest.
The operation forms part of ongoing military efforts to dismantle armed criminal networks and improve security in communities affected by banditry across Plateau State.