Troops rescue nine kidnap victims, foil terrorist attacks in Niger

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

The operations, conducted as part of intensified efforts to combat terrorists and other criminal elements in the brigade’s area of responsibility, also led to the recovery of arms, motorcycles and suspected rustled livestock.

The Brigade spokesperson, Captain Adebayo Adewumi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

According to him, troops of the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATR) Admin Battalion, deployed at Kotonkoro, rescued the nine victims during an operation in Mariga LGA on Wednesday, August 12.

He said the victims were handed over to Mariga Local Government officials for documentation and reunification with their families.

Adewumi added that troops conducting a fighting patrol in the Warari area of Rijau LGA on the same day encountered and cleared a terrorist ambush.

The troops subsequently recovered seven motorcycles, one camel, 47 cattle and 18 sheep suspected to have been rustled from local communities. The recovered livestock were handed over to the appropriate authorities.

The spokesman further disclosed that troops of the Brigade’s Quick Response Force, in collaboration with personnel of 311 Artillery Regiment and Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Battalion X, foiled an attempted terrorist attack and infiltration of communities in Inana Village, Majal and Tunga Bisallah areas of Rijau LGA on Monday, August 10.

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

According to him, the terrorists, who were riding motorcycles, fled towards a nearby forest after sighting the troops.

The troops engaged them, forcing the attackers to abandon their equipment and motorcycles, while some of the fleeing terrorists were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.

A subsequent search of the area led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, an empty magazine and ammunition of different calibres. One motorcycle was also recovered, while six others were destroyed.

The Commander, 18 Brigade, commended the troops for their courage and professionalism, urging them to sustain the offensive against terrorists and criminal elements in the state.

He also urged the troops to continue leveraging credible information from local communities to disrupt criminal activities and deny terrorists freedom of action.