Soldiers dismantle bandit camps, free kidnap victims in Kwara

Troops of the Nigerian Army have dismantled several bandit camps and rescued kidnap victims during a week-long operation across parts of Kwara State.

The operation, codenamed Igbo Danu and also referred to as Forest Flush, was carried out between January 23 and 29, 2026, within the Joint Operations Area of the 2 Division Nigerian Army.

In a statement posted on the Army’s official X account on Friday, Captain Maureen Ogbuka, speaking for the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 2 Division, said soldiers of the 22 Armoured Brigade led the offensive with support from the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The operation was coordinated by the General Officer Commanding 2 Division and Commander Sector 3 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General Chinedu Nnebife, alongside the Commander of 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Nicholas Rume.

According to the statement, troops carried out fighting patrols across known bandit enclaves, engaging armed groups in multiple locations. Several suspects were killed during the encounters, while others fled into nearby forests, some believed to be injured.

The army said the troops destroyed hideouts and camps used by the groups, targeting what it described as their logistics bases and supply routes.

One of the key areas cleared during the operation was Garin Dandi in Ifelodun Local Government Area, identified by the military as a major base for bandit activities. The statement said the clearing of the settlement disrupted the groups’ supply systems.

Soldiers also moved into remote camps previously difficult to access, where they destroyed abandoned structures and equipment believed to support the operations of the armed groups.

Despite challenging terrain, the army said troops maintained patrols across forested areas, set up blocking positions along escape routes and intercepted fleeing suspects. Several people held in captivity were rescued from different camps during these operations.

The statement noted that some of the armed groups appeared to receive assistance from individuals in nearby communities who allegedly shared information about troop movements, allowing them to withdraw before soldiers arrived.

The army called on residents to provide timely and reliable information to support ongoing security efforts, stating that the operation is continuing across affected parts of the state.