Bandits operating in Kagarko, Iche, Taka-Lafiya Gidan Makeri, and Janjala communities in Kaduna State were forced to flee their hideouts as a massive contingent of over 100 troops stormed the forest in Kagarko Local Government Area.

The region had been facing a siege by bandits, with several rural communities falling victim to abductions and attacks on residents and farmers in recent months. However, the situation seems to have taken a positive turn as the troops launched a decisive operation to dismantle the bandits’ hideouts and apprehend suspected informants in the area.

The military operation, which involved soldiers arriving in Hilux vans, trucks, and motorcycles, specifically targeted Iche, Taka-Lafiya, Gidan Makeri, and Janjala villages surrounding the forest, where bandits had sought refuge.

The move came after the troops received intelligence information indicating that some bandits from the far north were attempting to establish a new camp in the region.

Suleiman Aliyu, a traditional title holder in Kagarko, commended the efforts of the troops, expressing relief that some informants had been arrested, which had a positive impact on the security situation in Kagarko Chiefdom.

A source from the palace of the Emir of Kagarko confirmed the large-scale operation, stating that the troops entered the forest to raid the bandits’ hideouts effectively.

As of the time of this report, the Kaduna State Police Command had not issued a response to the incident. However, the operation conducted by the military demonstrates a strong commitment to tackle the banditry and insecurity in the region.