Men of the 33 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have killed seven suspected kidnappers at Lame Burra Forest in Bauchi State.

According to a statement by the army spokesman, Sani Usman, a Colonel, the troops also recovered two AK-47 rifles and three Dane guns at the kidnappers’ camp.

Usman said troops were still combing the area to further track down other fleeing members of the criminal gang.

The army spokesman also stated that the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has directed thet troops to maintain continued presence in the forest and its environs to prevent criminal elements from returning to the area.

“Subsequently, 2 Forward Operation Bases (FOBs) were established at Lame and Jimi to cover the Lame and Burra axis of the forest respectively,” Usman stated.

The Nigerian army recently began what it called “Operation Forest Kunama”, aimed at clearing cattle rustlers and armed bandits from their camps in the forests of Bauchi and Gombe states.

Usman said that troops usually carry out periodic fighting patrols into the forest from the FOBs.