Army Rescues Nine Kidnap Victims, Foils Terrorist Attacks in Niger

By Babangida Abdullahi, Gusau

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 18 Brigade have rescued nine kidnapped victims and foiled attempted terrorist attacks in Mariga and Rijau Local Government Areas of Niger State.

The operations, conducted between Monday and Wednesday, also led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, motorcycles and a large number of suspected rustled livestock.

In Mariga LGA, troops of the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) Admin Battalion deployed at Kotonkoro rescued nine kidnapped victims on Wednesday, August 12, during sustained offensive operations against terrorist elements.

The rescued victims were subsequently handed over to representatives of the Mariga Local Government authorities for documentation and reunification with their families.

Also on Wednesday, troops conducting a fighting patrol in the Warari general area of Rijau LGA encountered and cleared a terrorist ambush.

During the operation, the troops recovered seven motorcycles, one camel, 47 cattle and 18 sheep suspected to have been rustled from communities in the area.

The recovered livestock were handed over to the appropriate authorities.

Earlier, on Monday, August 10, troops of the Brigade’s Quick Response Force, working alongside personnel of the 311 Artillery Regiment and the Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Battalion X, foiled an attempted terrorist attack and infiltration of communities around Inana, Majal and Tunga Bisallah in Rijau LGA.

The troops, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted the terrorists as they attempted to infiltrate the communities.

The terrorists, who were reportedly riding motorcycles, fled towards a nearby forest after sighting the troops. The soldiers engaged them, forcing them to abandon their equipment and motorcycles.

Some of the fleeing terrorists were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.

A subsequent search of the area resulted in the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, an empty magazine and ammunition of different calibres.

The troops also recovered one motorcycle, while six other motorcycles used by the terrorists were destroyed.

The Commander, 18 Brigade, commended the troops for their courage, resilience and professionalism, directing them to sustain the tempo of operations against terrorists and other criminal elements in the state.

He also urged the troops to strengthen collaboration with local communities and continue to rely on credible intelligence to disrupt criminal activities and deny terrorists freedom of movement.

The Brigade Commander said the successes recorded were in line with the directive of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, to intensify offensive operations and degrade terrorism and other criminal activities across the country.

He charged the troops to remain vigilant and pursue criminal elements within the Brigade’s area of responsibility in order to protect vulnerable communities and safeguard lives and property.