Bauchi Gov Bala Mohammed: Bandits Will Be Reintegrated After Military Neutralizes Thousands

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has announced that bandits who surrender will be reintegrated under his government’s supervision, even as he confirmed that military operations have neutralized thousands of criminals in coordinated strikes across the state.

The governor made the statement Monday at the end of a closed-door security meeting in Bauchi, where he briefed journalists on successful joint operations by the Nigerian Army, Police, and vigilante groups in the Dajin Malam Forest area linking Bauchi, Plateau, and Taraba states.

Thousands Neutralized, Camps Destroyed

“The troops neutralised thousands of bandits, destroyed camps and motorcycles. They also disrupted their supply routes, forcing many of them to flee,” Mohammed said. “Four warplanes bombed the bandits and successfully cleared several camps, disrupting criminal activities within the forests.”

According to the governor, the military operation lasted two weeks and involved intensive intelligence gathering, aerial tracking, and interception. He described the level of federal might deployed as unprecedented, saying security services discovered bandit settlements of 10,000 to 20,000 people around the forest areas.

Surrender Window, Not Amnesty

Mohammed announced a temporary surrender window for remaining bandits but insisted this was not amnesty. “We are calling on those still hiding to surrender within this period. This is not amnesty, but a chance to return and reintegrate under the government supervision,” he said.

The governor revealed that most of the bandits are not indigenes of Bauchi State and said arrangements would be made to relocate surrendered fighters and reunite them with their families in their states of origin.

Biometric Profiling Planned

To prevent ungoverned spaces from becoming safe havens again, the state government plans to conduct biometric data capture of residents in affected communities in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission.

New settlers in the area will be required to provide verifiable guarantors and undergo screening and documentation. The government also warned that anyone found providing logistics support or intelligence to bandits would be severely dealt with.

Sources: Peoples Gazette, Arise News, BusinessDay