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Troops of 18 Brigade, Nigerian Army have recorded major gains against terrorists in Mariga and Rijau Local Government Areas of Niger State, rescuing nine kidnapped victims and foiling multiple attempted attacks.
In a statement signed by Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, HQ 18 Brigade, Captain Adebayo Samuel Adewumi, the Army said the operations were conducted between August 10 and August 12 as part of intensified offensive actions within the Brigade’s Area of Responsibility.
On Wednesday, August 12, troops of the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) Admin Battalion deployed at Kotonkoro, while conducting sustained offensive operations in Mariga LGA, successfully rescued nine kidnapped victims.
Adewumi said the victims have been handed over to representatives of the Mariga Local Government authorities for documentation and reunification with their families.
In a separate operation also on August 12, troops on a fighting patrol in the Warari general area of Rijau LGA encountered and cleared a terrorist ambush.
During exploitation of the area, the troops recovered 7 motorcycles, 1 camel, 47 cattle and 18 sheep suspected to have been rustled from local communities.
The livestock have been handed over to the appropriate authorities.
Earlier, on Monday, August 10, the Brigade’s Quick Response Force, working with troops of 311 Artillery Regiment and Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Battalion X, foiled an attempted terrorist infiltration of Inana Village, Majal and Tunga Bisallah villages in Rijau LGA.
Acting on credible intelligence, troops intercepted terrorists mounted on motorcycles as they attempted to enter the communities.
On sighting the troops, the terrorists fled into the nearby forest. Troops engaged them, forcing them to abandon equipment.
During a follow-up search, troops recovered 1 AK-47 rifle, 1 empty magazine, and ammunition of different calibres.
One motorcycle was recovered while 6 other motorcycles were destroyed on the spot.
Some of the fleeing terrorists were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.
The Commander, 18 Brigade, commended the troops for their “courage, resilience and professionalism” and urged them to sustain the operational tempo to degrade and dismantle terrorist elements in the state.
He also charged troops to continue leveraging credible information from local communities to disrupt criminal activities and deny terrorists freedom of action.
The commander noted that the successes reflect the commitment of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, to dominate the battlespace and intensify operations against terrorism and other crimes.
“In line with the COAS mandate, troops are to pursue and eliminate criminal elements within the Brigade Area of Responsibility, in order to safeguard vulnerable communities as well as security of lives and property,” the statement further reads.
