Troops of 18 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have rescued nine kidnapped victims and foiled multiple terrorist attacks across Mariga and Rijau Local Government Areas of Niger State.
The operations, conducted as part of efforts to degrade terrorist and criminal activities within the Brigade’s Area of Responsibility, also resulted in the recovery of weapons, motorcycles and rustled livestock.
This was contained in a statement by the Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, Capt. Adebayo Samuel Adewumi, on Friday.
On Wednesday, August 12, troops of the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) Admin Battalion, deployed at Kotonkoro, rescued nine kidnapped victims during offensive operations against terrorist elements in Mariga Local Government Area.
The rescued victims were subsequently handed over to representatives of the Mariga Local Government authorities for documentation and reunification with their families.
In a separate operation the same day, troops conducting a fighting patrol in the Warari general area of Rijau Local Government Area encountered a terrorist ambush.
The troops successfully repelled the attack and cleared the area. During an exploitation operation that followed, the soldiers recovered seven motorcycles, one camel, 47 cattle and 18 sheep suspected to have been rustled from surrounding communities.
The recovered livestock were subsequently handed over to the appropriate authorities for necessary action and identification of their rightful owners.
Meanwhile, troops had on Monday, August 10, foiled an attempted terrorist attack and infiltration of communities in Rijau Local Government Area.
The operation involved the Brigade’s Quick Response Force, troops of 311 Artillery Regiment and the Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Battalion X.
Acting on credible intelligence, the troops maintained an effective presence around Inana Village, Majal and Tunga Bisallah communities and intercepted terrorists who attempted to infiltrate the area on motorcycles.
On sighting the troops, the terrorists fled towards a nearby forest. The soldiers engaged them, forcing the attackers to abandon their motorcycles and other equipment. Some of the fleeing terrorists were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.
During a subsequent search of the area, troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, an empty magazine and ammunition of different calibres, alongside one motorcycle.
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Six other motorcycles abandoned by the terrorists were destroyed on the spot.
The series of operations represent a significant setback for terrorist elements operating across parts of Niger State, particularly their attempts to infiltrate vulnerable communities, abduct residents and move freely through the area.
The Commander of 18 Brigade commended the troops for their courage, resilience and professionalism, urging them to sustain the operational tempo and intensify efforts to dismantle terrorist and criminal networks within the state.
He also called on troops to continue leveraging credible information from residents and communities to detect and disrupt criminal activities.
The Brigade Commander said the successes recorded by the troops reflected the commitment of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Waidi Shuaibu, to dominating the battlespace and intensifying offensive operations against terrorism and other criminal activities.
He urged the troops to remain vigilant and continue pursuing criminal elements in order to protect vulnerable communities and safeguard lives and property across the Brigade’s area of responsibility.
The Nigerian Army also encouraged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation remains critical to sustaining military operations and preventing further attacks.