Operation Forest Flush: Troops Storm Bandit Camps, Rescue Victims in Kwara
Troops of the Nigerian Army have stormed and dismantled bandit camps across forested enclaves in Kwara State under Operation Igbo Danu (Operation Forest Flush), neutralising terrorists, arresting suspects and rescuing kidnapped victims in a sustained offensive between 23 and 29 January 2026.
The operation, disclosed in a statement by Captain Maureen Ogbuka, for the Acting Deputy Director, 2 Division Army Public Relations, on today.
The operations were executed by troops of 22 Armoured Brigade, under 2 Division Nigerian Army, with massive support from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). The coordinated assaults targeted long-standing terrorist hideouts and logistics bases across the Joint Operations Area, forcing surviving elements to flee into the forests with suspected gunshot wounds.
During fighting patrols into identified bandit enclaves, troops neutralised terrorists, destroyed camps and dislodged criminal elements from locations previously considered inaccessible.
In Ifelodun Local Government Area, forces cleared Garin Dandi, a notorious bandit enclave, dismantling logistics hubs and supply routes used to sustain criminal operations.
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Further advances saw troops overrun remote forest camps, destroying abandoned shelters and logistics enablers, significantly degrading the terrorists’ ability to regroup or sustain attacks. Blocking positions were also established along escape routes, leading to the arrest of fleeing suspects.
The offensive resulted in the rescue of several kidnapped victims held in different camps across the state, while troops maintained an aggressive posture despite difficult terrain, effectively denying bandits freedom of movement.
Commanders involved in the operation include the General Officer Commanding 2 Division and Commander Sector 3, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General Chinedu Nnebife, and the Commander 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Nicholas Rume, whose leadership underscored the resolve to dismantle terrorist networks in the region.
Preliminary assessments from the operations revealed that some bandits received support from collaborators within nearby communities, who provided intelligence on troop movements, enabling early withdrawals from targeted areas.
The Nigerian Army has called on residents to continue providing timely and credible information on terrorists and their collaborators, assuring that Operation Forest Flush remains ongoing until all criminal elements are decisively dealt with and lasting security restored across Kwara State.
By PRNigeria
