Troops Foil Terrorists’ Attacks, Rescue 9 Abductees In Niger

Troops of 18 Brigade have foiled terrorists’ attacks and rescued nine Kidnap victims during operations in Mariga and Rijau local government areas of Niger State.

A statement by the acting assistant director, Army Public Relations

HQ 18 Brigade, Bida, Captain Adebayo Adewumi said troops of Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) Admin Battalion, deployed at Kotonkoro, on Wednesday, while conducting sustained offensive operations against terrorist elements, rescued nine kidnapped victims in Mariga LGA.

He said the victims were subsequently handed over to representatives of the Mariga local government authorities for documentation and onward reunification with their families.

In another operation on the same day, troops conducting a fighting patrol in the Warari general area of Rijau LGA encountered and successfully cleared a terrorist ambush.

He said troops during the exploitation of the area recovered seven motorcycles, one camel, 47 cattle and 18 sheep, suspected to have been rustled from local communities.

He added that the recovered livestock have been handed over to the appropriate authorities.

Furthermore, on Monday, troops of the Brigade’s Quick Response Force, in conjunction with troops of 311 Artillery Regiment (AR) and Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Battalion X (CSIB X), successfully foiled an attempted terrorist attack and infiltration of Inana Village at Majal and Tunga Bisallah villages in Rijau LGA.

According to him, troops acting on credible intelligence and maintaining an effective presence in the area intercepted the terrorists as they attempted to infiltrate the communities.

He said the terrorists on sighting the troops, who were mounted on motorcycles, fled towards the nearby forest as the troops engaged them, forcing them to abandon their equipment and motorcycles.

He stated that some of the fleeing terrorists were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.

Troops during subsequent exploitation of the area recovered one AK-47 rifle, one empty magazine and ammunition of different calibres.

Troops also recovered one motorcycle while six other motorcycles were destroyed on the spot.

The Commander 18 Brigade, commended the troops for their courage, resilience and professionalism, urging them to sustain the operational tempo, remain vigilant and intensify efforts to degrade and dismantle terrorist and criminal elements operating within the State.

The Commander further charged the troops to continue leveraging credible information from local communities to disrupt criminal activities and deny terrorists freedom of action.

He noted that the successes recorded so far reflect the commitment and resolve of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu NAM, to dominate the battlespace, intensify offensive operations, and degrade terrorism and other criminal activities.