Troops of 33 Artillery Brigade under Operation WUTAN DAJI have recorded a significant operational success following a coordinated clearance operation in Kumbodoro Forest and Kumbodoro Village in Bauchi State.

The offensive offensive operation dealt a major setback to bandit networks operating within the area. Troops successfully cleared multiple bandit enclaves, including the notorious Azuge camps within the Kumbodoro Forest axis.

Supported by the Air Component, the troops neutralised several bandits and dismantled key operational bases, further degrading the criminals’ capability to threaten lives and property of citizens.

The operation led to rescue of eight kidnapped victims. A thorough search of the bandits enclave led to the recovery of cache of arms and equipment, including 4 skeletal rifles, 4 dane guns, one FN rifle magazine, one AK-47 magazine, as well as communication devices and other operational items.

Other recovered items include 2 pairs of boots, 3 helmets, one power bank, one StarTimes decoder, QJC meta links, one jackknife, 6 mobile handsets, arrows, radio chargers, OPAY ATM cards, photographs, an identity card, several pairs of security agency uniforms and leg chains.

Relatedly, troops deployed at Duguri while acting on credible intelligence, recovered 36 cows at Mushen Kura Village in collaboration with local vigilantes.

The livestock are believed to have been abandoned by fleeing bandits due to sustained military pressure. Efforts are ongoing to identify and return the animals to their rightful owners.

The Nigerian Army remains resolute in its mission to restore peace and stability across all theatres of operation, leveraging intelligence-driven operations, joint force synergy and strategic partnerships to deny bandits and terrorists any safe haven.

At least dozens of traders and buyers were killed on Saturday evening when a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jet reportedly struck Jilli Market in the Fucchimiram Ward of Geidam Local Government Area, near the border with Borno State.

Eyewitnesses described the incident as a tragedy, with unconfirmed reports suggesting the death toll could exceed 200. Bodies were said to be scattered in nearby bushes, while survivors and the injured were evacuated to medical facilities in Damaturu, Geidam General Hospital, and parts of Borno State. Some accounts put the confirmed fatalities at over 50, with at least 14 others hospitalised.

According to preliminary reports, the airstrike occurred as a military jet was pursuing suspected Boko Haram insurgents who had moved into the market area, possibly to collect levies from residents. The strike appears to have missed its intended target, hitting civilians instead.

Jilli is a border community close to Damasak in Borno State, located more than 200 kilometres from Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. The market serves residents from both Yobe and Borno states.As of Sunday, the Nigeria Air Force had not issued an official confirmation or statement on the incident. Emergency response efforts are underway, with local leaders, including the councillor of Jilli Ward, urging residents to donate blood and other essentials to assist victims.

The exact casualty figures remain unclear pending official verification, as access to the remote area is limited and investigations are expected to provide more details in the coming days.

This incident adds to a series of reported accidental civilian casualties linked to counter-insurgency operations in the northeast, where the military continues operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents.

Authorities have in past similar cases directed hospitals to provide free treatment to the wounded.

Unknown gunmen on Friday night ambushed and killed the traditional ruler of Ochia Awarra Autonomous Community, HRH Eze Barrister Paulinus Ekwueme (also known as Ochia I of Ochia Kingdom), along with four security operatives and others in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.

The assailants set the victims’ remains on fire after the attack.

According to eyewitness accounts and reports, the monarch and his entourage were returning from a meeting in his village, Ugama, when gunmen trailed and opened fire on them near Assa Community Primary School, at the boundary between Assa and Ochia communities.

The victims were shot dead and their bodies burnt beyond recognition.

Eze Ekwueme, a barrister, had reportedly just returned to Nigeria from abroad (with some accounts mentioning the United States or Canada, where he had stayed for several years) earlier in the week or on the day of the incident.

His killing has thrown the Awarra Court Area and surrounding communities into mourning and confusion, as residents grapple with the brutal nature of the attack.

Imo State Police Command spokesman Henry Okoye confirmed the incident and stated that security operatives have been deployed to the Awarra Court Area to restore law and order and prevent further breakdown of peace.

The motive behind the attack remains unclear at this time, and no group has claimed responsibility. Police have recovered the burnt remains and launched an investigation into the killings.

This incident adds to concerns over the safety of traditional rulers and escalating insecurity in parts of Imo State and the South-East region.

Community leaders have called for urgent measures to apprehend the perpetrators and address underlying tensions in the area.