Soldiers of the 33 Artillery Brigade, Bauchi, yesterday killed four suspected armed robbers and arrested 10 suspected kidnappers in the ongoing operation “FOREST KUNAMA” launched in notorious forests across the state.

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the brigade, Major Joseph Afolashade, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the development, at the Shadawanka Army Barracks, Bauchi.

He said the special operation, which was directed by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Tukur Buratai, was aimed at flushing out all criminals hiding in thick forests and other places in the state.

The army spokesman added that the brigade had mobilised adequate troops for the exercise and equipped them with sufficient weapons and vehicles, so as to enable the troops penetrate every nook and cranny of forests to trap the bandits.

He disclosed that the gallant soldiers had, in the last couple of weeks of the operations, succeeded in killing four bandits at Burra forest in Ningi Local Government and recovered over 100 stolen cows, which had since been handed over to the owners through the village head of the area.

Afolashade added that the troops had also apprehended three suspected armed robbers – Mohammed Idris, Musa Bature and Ibrahim Adamu – at Rimin Zayam and Mai Turare villages.

He gave the names of some of the suspected kidnappers as Muhammadu Idris, Dayyabu Abdullahi and Nasiru Adamu all in Toro Local Government. The spokesman said four others (names withheld) were captured at Dogon Ruwa, Kwange and Dutsen Mai Rama villages in Ningi Local Government where 19 cows, six sheep and two horses were also recovered from them.

He said: “The troops also recovered a bag containing N439,000 and some personal items from the suspects. The ongoing operation FOREST KUNAMA will continue till the last criminal in Bauchi State is wiped out. The second phase of the exercise to other forests in Bauchi State such as Balmo forest, Buzu forest and Yankari forest will commence.”