Army rescues nine kidnap victims, foils attacks in Niger

Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued nine kidnapped persons and foiled attempted attacks by terrorists in Mariga and Rijau local government areas of Niger State.

The Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters 18 Brigade, Adebayo Adewumi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying the operations were conducted as part of intensified offensive operations against terrorists and other criminal elements in the brigade’s area of responsibility.

According to Mr Adewumi, troops of the Nigerian Army Training Centre Admin Battalion rescued the nine victims on Wednesday, August 12, during sustained operations in Mariga. The victims were handed over to representatives of the Mariga Local Government Area for documentation and reunification with their families.

He said troops conducting a ‘fighting’ patrol in the Warari area of Rijau on the same day also encountered and cleared a terrorist ambush.

During the operation, the troops recovered seven motorcycles, one camel, 47 cattle, and 18 sheep suspected of having been rustled from communities in the area. The recovered livestock were handed over to the appropriate authorities.

Mr Adewumi said troops had two days earlier, on 10 August foiled an attempted attack and infiltration of Inana, Majal and Tunga Bisallah communities in Rijau.

He said the operation involved the Brigade’s Quick Response Force, troops of the 311 Artillery Regiment and the Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Battalion X.

“Acting on credible intelligence and maintaining an effective presence in the area, the troops intercepted the terrorists as they attempted to infiltrate the communities,” he said.

According to him, the attackers, who were riding motorcycles, fled towards a nearby forest after sighting the troops. The soldiers engaged them, forcing the terrorists to abandon their weapons and motorcycles, while some of them were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.

The troops subsequently recovered an AK-47 rifle, an empty magazine and ammunition of different calibres. One motorcycle was also recovered, while six others were destroyed.

The development comes amid continuing security challenges in Niger State, particularly in communities around the Kainji Lake National Park and areas bordering neighbouring states.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported on 12 August that nine bodies were recovered along the Wawa-Lumma road in Borgu Local Government Area after suspected bandits attacked travellers. The police said tactical teams were deployed to evacuate the bodies and intensify clearance operations in the area.

Earlier, this newspaper reported that security agencies had rescued 145 people abducted in Niger State as part of a wider operation that freed 308 kidnapped victims in Niger and Kwara states. The victims rescued in Niger were found in the Kainji Lake National Park forest in New Bussa.

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The army said the latest operations were intended to deny terrorists freedom of action and protect vulnerable communities.

Mr Adewumi said the Brigade Commander commended the troops for their “courage, resilience and professionalism” and urged them to sustain the operational tempo.

He also urged the troops to continue using intelligence from local communities to disrupt criminal activities, saying the successes reflected the commitment of the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shuaibu, to intensify offensive operations against terrorism and other criminal activities.