Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has said thousands of bandits were neutralised during a recent security offensive targeting criminal hideouts across parts of the state.
The governor disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of coordinated operations in areas previously troubled by banditry, especially Alkaleri Local Government Area and adjoining communities.
He credited the success of the operation to the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after the state government raised concerns over worsening insecurity.
Mohammed also commended the Office of the National Security Adviser, security chiefs and other stakeholders, noting that their support led to what he described as significant improvement in the security situation.
According to him, joint operations involving the military, air force, police and intelligence agencies disrupted key bandit strongholds and restored relative calm to affected areas.
He said security forces discovered large settlements used by the bandits in forest locations, including Dajin Madam and nearby territories, adding that the camps were believed to host between 10,000 and 20,000 fighters.
The governor explained that the enclaves had since been destroyed, while supply channels and logistics networks sustaining the criminals were also cut off.
Mohammed said the operation, which lasted about two weeks, combined intelligence-driven tactics, aerial monitoring and coordinated ground assaults.
He added that several camps were bombarded, hundreds of motorcycles destroyed, and many of the fleeing bandits forced out of the forests.
The governor further stated that security agencies had put follow-up measures in place to consolidate the gains, including sustained aerial surveillance, rapid response deployment and strategies to prevent the criminals from regrouping.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and provide useful information to security agencies, warning that anyone aiding bandits with logistics or intelligence would face consequences.
Mohammed also stressed the need for improved community profiling and data gathering, including biometric registration of residents, to prevent criminal elements from exploiting ungoverned spaces.
