Troops Rescue Nine Kidnapped Victims, Foil Terrorist Attacks in Niger

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 as part of sustained offensive operations against terrorists and other criminal elements within the Brigade’s Area of Responsibility, were carried out between Monday, August 10, and Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

On Wednesday, troops of the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) Admin Battalion, deployed at Kotonkoro, rescued nine kidnapped victims during offensive operations against terrorist elements in Mariga Local Government Area.

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

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

During the exploitation of the area, the troops 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.

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

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

The troops engaged the fleeing terrorists, forcing them to abandon their equipment and motorcycles. Some of the terrorists were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter.

Further exploitation of the area led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, an empty magazine, ammunition of different calibres and one motorcycle. Six other motorcycles were destroyed on the spot.

The Commander of 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 in Niger State.

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

He said the successes recorded so far demonstrated the commitment of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, to dominating the battlespace, intensifying offensive operations and degrading terrorism and other criminal activities.

He further urged the troops to pursue and eliminate criminal elements within the Brigade’s Area of Responsibility to safeguard vulnerable communities and protect lives and property.

The statement was signed by Captain Adebayo Samuel Adewumi, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters 18 Brigade, Bida, on August 14, 2026.