Troops of the Nigerian Army have killed six armed bandits and destroyed multiple hideouts during coordinated operations in Sokoto State, as part of the ongoing Operation Forest Sanity III aimed at flushing criminals from the region’s forests.
The latest military push occurred on Thursday in the dense Gandumi Forest, north of Goronyo Local Government Area. Troops from the 8 Division Gar Strike Team stormed bandit enclaves between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., targeting two separate locations: one in Gandumi and another in Indulumu village, Maradun LGA of neighbouring Zamfara State.
According to military sources, six militants were neutralised during the joint raids. Troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, three motorcycles, camouflage clothing, assorted drugs, and maintenance kits. The camps were set ablaze to prevent them from being reused.
“These forests have long served as safe havens for criminals,” said a senior officer involved in the operation. “Every successful raid weakens their grip and protects nearby communities.”
Later that day, troops also intercepted a group of bandits on motorcycles heading towards Gamaroji, a farming community in Isa Local Government Area. Acting on specific intelligence, security forces ambushed the group at about 11 a.m., killing one and forcing others to flee. Two motorcycles and two rifles were recovered at the scene.
Local residents, who feared another round of cattle rustling or mass abduction, expressed relief at the timely intervention. “We thought they had come again,” said Bawa Yusuf, a farmer in Gamaroji. “But this time, security men were ready.”
Sokoto’s eastern corridor, stretching from Goronyo to Isa and down into Zamfara’s Maradun axis, is known as a major transit route for armed gangs moving stolen cattle, weapons, and kidnap victims. The military has prioritized this zone under Operation Forest Sanity III, launched in March, which combines daytime assaults with intelligence-led night raids.
Military commanders say the operation will continue until all criminal camps are dismantled and freedom of movement restored across the region.
A local traditional leader, who spoke anonymously for fear of reprisal, urged the army to maintain pressure on the criminals. “We are grateful for today’s success,” he said, “but we still need patrols and quick-response teams. These bandits regroup fast.”
