Military saves nine abducted hostages, thwarts militant plots in Niger

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Troops of 18 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have rescued nine kidnapped victims and foiled terrorist attacks in separate operations across Mariga and Rijau Local Government Areas of Niger State.

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According to a statement signed by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters, Captain Adebayo Adewumi, on X on Friday, the successes were recorded as troops intensified offensive operations against terrorists and other criminal elements within the Brigade’s Area of Responsibility.

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On Wednesday, August 12, troops of the Nigerian Army Training Centre Admin Battalion, deployed at Kotonkoro, rescued nine kidnapped victims during sustained offensive operations in Mariga LGA.

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

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

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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.

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Similarly, on August 10, troops of the Brigade’s Quick Response Force, working alongside troops of 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.

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

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

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During the subsequent exploitation, the troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, an empty magazine and ammunition of different calibres. One motorcycle was also recovered, while six others were destroyed.

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The commander, 18 Brigade, commended the troops for their “courage, resilience and professionalism,” urging them to sustain the operational tempo and remain vigilant.

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He also charged the troops to intensify efforts to degrade and dismantle terrorist and criminal elements operating within the state.

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According to the brigade commander, troops must continue to leverage “credible information from local communities” to disrupt criminal activities and deny terrorists freedom of action.

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He said the successes recorded so far reflected the commitment of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, to “dominate the battlespace, intensify offensive operations, and degrade terrorism and other criminal activities.”

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The commander 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.

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