Troops of 33 Brigade, based on incessant reported cases of armed robberies and kidnappings in some parts of Bauchi State have embarked on fighting patrols to clear the state of such criminal elements, the Nigerian Army has said.

In a statement issuedon Monday, the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman said the fighting patrol was carried outon Sundayat Dutsen Mairama and around Dogon Ruwa settlement within Lame/Burra forest of Toro and Ningi Local Government Areas of Bauchi State.

“During the encounter, three armed kidnappers were killed and their camps were destroyed. The troops also recovered arms and ammunitions including empty shells. The troops would continue to carry out such clearance operations in all known hideouts of kidnappers and armed bandits within Bauchi and other states to deny criminal elements freedom of action,” the spokesman said.

•Photo shows an abandoned bandits camp.