Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 18 Brigade have intensified offensive operations against terrorists and other criminal elements in Niger State, rescuing nine kidnapped victims and foiling a terrorist attack across Mariga and Rijau Local Government Areas.
This is contained in a statement signed by Captain Adebayo Samuel Adewumi, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations and made available to The News Chronicle.
According to the statement, the operations, carried out between Monday and Wednesday, also led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, motorcycles and dozens of suspected rustled livestock.
On Wednesday, August 12, troops of the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) Admin Battalion, deployed at Kotonkoro, rescued nine kidnapped victims during sustained offensive operations against terrorist elements in Mariga LGA.
The rescued 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 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 appropriate authorities.
Earlier, on Monday, August 10, troops of the Brigade’s Quick Response Force, in collaboration with personnel of the 311 Artillery Regiment and Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Battalion X (CSIB 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 them, forcing the attackers to abandon their equipment and motorcycles, with some of the fleeing terrorists 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 various calibres.
One motorcycle was also recovered, while six others were destroyed at the scene.
The Commander, 18 Brigade, commended the troops for their courage, resilience and professionalism, urging them to sustain the operational tempo and intensify efforts to dismantle terrorist and criminal networks operating across the state.
He also charged the troops to continue leveraging credible intelligence from local communities to disrupt criminal activities and deny terrorists freedom of action.
According to him, the latest successes demonstrate the commitment of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu NAM, to dominating the battlespace, intensifying offensive operations and degrading terrorism and other criminal activities across the country.
The Commander further directed the troops to pursue and neutralise criminal elements within the Brigade’s Area of Responsibility while safeguarding vulnerable communities and protecting lives and property.
