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 intensified offensive activities within the Brigade’s Area of Responsibility, also led to the recovery of weapons, motorcycles and livestock suspected to have been rustled from local communities.
According to a statement by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 18 Brigade, Captain Adebayo Samuel Adewumi, troops of the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) Admin Battalion, deployed at Kotonkoro, rescued nine kidnapped victims in Mariga LGA on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
The victims were subsequently handed over to representatives of the Mariga Local Government authorities for documentation and reunification with their families.
On the same day, troops conducting 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 seven motorcycles, one camel, 47 cattle and 18 sheep, believed to have been rustled from local communities. The recovered livestock were handed over to the appropriate authorities.
In another operation on Monday, August 10, troops of the Brigade’s Quick Response Force, working with personnel of the 311 Artillery Regiment and the Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Battalion X, foiled an attempted terrorist attack and infiltration of Inana Village and surrounding communities in Rijau LGA.
The troops, acting on credible intelligence and maintaining a strong presence in the area, intercepted the terrorists as they attempted to infiltrate the communities.
The terrorists, who were reportedly riding motorcycles, fled towards a nearby forest after sighting the troops. The soldiers engaged them, forcing the attackers to abandon their equipment and motorcycles.
Some of the fleeing terrorists were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.
During a subsequent search of the area, the troops recovered one 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 degrade terrorist and criminal elements operating in Niger State.
He also directed the troops to continue leveraging credible information from local communities to disrupt criminal activities and deny terrorists freedom of action.
The Brigade Commander said the successes recorded so far reflected the commitment of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, to dominating the battlespace and intensifying offensive operations against terrorism and other criminal activities.
He charged the troops to pursue and eliminate criminal elements within the Brigade’s Area of Responsibility while protecting vulnerable communities and safeguarding lives and property.
