By ZAKAA LAZARUS
Troops of the 18 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have intensified operations against terrorists and criminal elements in Niger State, recording significant gains in Mariga and Rijau Local Government Areas.
This was disclosed in a statement on Friday by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 18 Brigade, Captain Adebayo Samuel Adewumi.
According to the statement, on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, troops of the Nigerian Army Training Centre Admin Battalion deployed at Kotonkoro rescued nine kidnapped victims in Mariga LGA during sustained offensive operations. The victims were handed over to Mariga Local Government authorities for documentation and reunification with their families.
In a separate operation the same day in the Warari area of Rijau LGA, troops encountered and cleared a terrorist ambush. During exploitation of the area, they recovered seven motorcycles, one camel, 47 cattle and 18 sheep suspected to have been rustled from local communities. The items were handed over to the appropriate authorities.
Earlier, on Monday, August 10, the Brigade’s Quick Response Force, in collaboration with 311 Artillery Regiment and Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Battalion X, foiled an attempted attack on Inana, Majal and Tunga Bisallah villages in Rijau LGA.
Acting on credible intelligence, troops intercepted terrorists on motorcycles attempting to infiltrate the communities. On sighting the troops, the criminals fled into nearby forests, abandoning their equipment.
During exploitation, troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, an empty magazine, assorted ammunition and one motorcycle, while six other motorcycles were destroyed on the spot.
The Commander, 18 Brigade, commended the troops for their courage and professionalism, and urged them to sustain the operational tempo.
He said the successes reflect the commitment of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, to dominate the battlespace and degrade terrorism across the country.
The Commander also charged troops to continue leveraging credible information from local communities to disrupt criminal activities and safeguard lives and property.
