Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has said troops of the Nigerian Army have dismantled all bandits’ camps in the state following offensive operations against bandits.
Speaking at a press briefing after a closed-door meeting with security agencies and traditional rulers from affected communities, Governor Bala said the move followed a major security crackdown that exposed widespread banditry across forest corridors linking Bauchi with Plateau and Taraba states.
He said soldiers overran bandits’ camps and destroyed their logistics in Dajin Madam Forest. He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for listening to the complaints of the people of Bauchi and taking decisive action that neutralised bandits hiding in Dajin Madam and Taraba State forests.
According to him, about four warplanes bombed the bandits and successfully cleared several camps, disrupting criminal activities within the forests. Several bandits were neutralised during the operation, while others fled under sustained military pressure.
“Several motorcycles used by the criminals were destroyed, limiting their mobility and operational capability,” he said, adding that troops have established a firm hold within the forest to consolidate gains and prevent re-infiltration by fleeing bandits.
The governor said the state has opened a surrender window for bandits operating within and around the state, urging them to lay down their arms as part of efforts to consolidate recent security gains.
He disclosed that the operation uncovered large settlements of armed groups, prompting a decisive response by security agencies through coordinated ground and aerial actions backed by intelligence.
While confirming that many of the bandit networks have been dismantled, the governor emphasised the need for a balanced approach that combines enforcement with an opportunity for rehabilitation.
“We are calling on those still in hiding to surrender within this period. This is not amnesty, but a chance to return and reintegrate under government supervision,” the governor said.
He added that arrangements are being considered to relocate those who surrender, including their families, noting that many of the suspects are not originally from Bauchi State.
As part of broader security reforms, Governor Mohammed announced stricter surveillance measures, including biometric data collection, intelligence-led monitoring, and verification of activities in markets, motor parks, and public spaces.
He said the state also plans to strengthen community-based security systems by recruiting and supporting local vigilante groups to complement formal security agencies.
The governor said the new measures are aimed at preventing the creation of ungoverned spaces that could serve as safe havens for criminal elements.
He called on residents to cooperate with security agencies and remain vigilant, assuring that efforts are ongoing to ensure lasting peace and stability.
He explained that the government will conduct a biometric profiling exercise of residents in vulnerable communities as part of renewed efforts to strengthen security and prevent the re-emergence of criminal hideouts. The exercise will be carried out in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and other relevant federal agencies to ensure proper documentation and monitoring of population movements in high-risk areas.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at eliminating ungoverned spaces that have been exploited by criminal elements to establish camps and launch attacks on surrounding communities.
Governor Mohammed commended security agencies, including the Nigerian Armed Forces and intelligence units, noting that sustained operations have significantly disrupted the logistics and mobility of criminal groups.
“We are taking these measures to ensure that no space is left ungoverned or unmonitored, so that criminal elements cannot regroup or threaten our communities again,” he said.
He reiterated his appeal to fleeing bandits to surrender during what he described as a temporary window for peace, stressing that it is not an amnesty but an opportunity to abandon violence and reintegrate peacefully.
Governor Mohammed further assured that the state government is intensifying collaboration with traditional institutions, security agencies, and federal authorities to sustain ongoing operations and guarantee lasting peace and stability across Bauchi State.
