Army Rescues Nine Kidnapped Victims, Foils Terrorist Attacks in Niger

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

The operations, conducted as part of intensified offensives against terrorists and criminal elements, also led to the recovery of firearms, ammunition, motorcycles and suspected rustled livestock.

The Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters, Captain Adebayo Adewumi, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Friday.

According to Adewumi, troops of the Nigerian Army Training Centre Admin Battalion, deployed at Kotonkoro, rescued nine kidnapped victims during sustained operations in Mariga Local Government Area on Wednesday, August 12.

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

In a separate operation the same day, troops conducting a fighting patrol around Warari in Rijau Local Government Area encountered and successfully cleared a terrorist ambush.

During the subsequent exploitation of the area, the troops recovered seven motorcycles, one camel, 47 cattle and 18 sheep suspected to have been rustled from surrounding communities. The recovered livestock were handed over to the relevant authorities.

The Army also reported that troops foiled an attempted terrorist attack and infiltration of communities around Inana Village, Majal and Tunga Bisallah in Rijau Local Government Area on August 10.

The operation involved the Brigade’s Quick Response Force, troops of the 311 Artillery Regiment and the Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Battalion X.

Acting on credible intelligence, the troops intercepted terrorists riding motorcycles as they attempted to infiltrate the communities. The attackers fled towards a nearby forest after sighting the troops and were engaged by the soldiers.

The terrorists abandoned their equipment and motorcycles while some were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.

The troops subsequently recovered an AK-47 rifle, an empty magazine, ammunition of different calibres and one motorcycle. Six other motorcycles were destroyed.

The 18 Brigade commander commended the troops for their courage, resilience and professionalism, urging them to sustain the offensive and remain vigilant.

He also called for continued reliance on credible information from local communities to disrupt criminal activities and protect lives and property.