The Nigerian Army has rescued nine kidnap victims and disrupted suspected terrorist operations in Mariga and Rijau Local Government Areas of Niger State.
The operations were carried out by troops of 18 Brigade as part of sustained offensive operations against terrorists and other criminal elements within the Brigade’s Area of Responsibility, according to the Army.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 18 Brigade, Bida, Cpt Adebayo Adewumi, said troops of the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) Admin Battalion, deployed at Kotonkoro, rescued the nine kidnapped victims during an operation in Mariga LGA on Wednesday, August 12.
He said the rescued victims were subsequently handed over to representatives of the Mariga Local Government authorities for documentation and onward reunification with their families.
Adewumi said that, in a separate operation on the same day, troops conducting a fighting patrol in the Warari general area of Rijau LGA encountered a suspected terrorist ambush.
According to him, the troops engaged the attackers and recovered seven motorcycles, one camel, 47 cattle and 18 sheep suspected to have been rustled from local communities.
He said the recovered livestock had been handed over to the appropriate authorities.
The Army spokesperson also said troops of the Brigade’s Quick Response Force, in conjunction with troops of the 311 Artillery Regiment and Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Battalion X, disrupted an attempted terrorist attack and infiltration of communities in Rijau LGA on Monday, August 10.
“Acting on credible intelligence and maintaining an effective presence in the area, the troops intercepted the terrorists as they attempted to infiltrate the communities,” Adewumi said.
He added that the suspected terrorists, who were reportedly mounted on motorcycles, fled towards a nearby forest after sighting the troops.
“The troops engaged them, forcing them to abandon their equipment and motorcycles, while some of the fleeing terrorists were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds,” he said.
Adewumi said subsequent exploitation of the area led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, an empty magazine and ammunition of different calibres.
He added that one motorcycle was recovered, while six other motorcycles 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 remain vigilant.
“The Commander further charged the troops to continue leveraging credible information from local communities to disrupt criminal activities and deny terrorists freedom of action,” Adewumi said.
He said the Brigade Commander noted that the successes recorded so far reflected the commitment of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, to intensifying offensive operations and degrading terrorism and other criminal activities.
The Commander also urged troops to continue operations aimed at safeguarding vulnerable communities and protecting lives and property within the Brigade’s Area of Responsibility.
