Troops of 18 Brigade have intensified offensive operations across Mariga and Rijau Local Government Areas of Niger State, rescuing nine kidnapped victims and disrupting attempted terrorist attacks and infiltration of vulnerable communities.
Desk: Defence & Security
Date: 14 August 2026
Time: 11:12 WAT
Location: Niger State, Nigeria
The operations also produced the recovery of weapons, motorcycles and suspected rustled livestock, reflecting sustained military pressure against terrorist and criminal networks operating within the Brigade’s area of responsibility.
According to a statement signed by the Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, Headquarters 18 Brigade, Bida, Captain Adebayo Adewumi, troops of the Nigerian Army Training Centre Admin Battalion deployed at Kotonkoro rescued nine kidnapped victims in Mariga Local Government Area on 12 August during sustained offensive operations. The victims were subsequently handed over to Mariga Local Government authorities for documentation and reunification with their families.
In a separate operation the same day, troops conducting a fighting patrol in the Warari area of Rijau Local Government Area 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 livestock were subsequently handed over to the appropriate authorities.
The Brigade also reported that troops of its Quick Response Force, working with 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 Local Government Area on 10 August.
Acting on credible intelligence, the troops intercepted terrorists attempting to infiltrate the communities. The terrorists, who were mounted on motorcycles, fled towards a nearby forest after sighting the troops. Troops engaged the fleeing elements, forcing them to abandon equipment and motorcycles, with some terrorists believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.
Subsequent exploitation resulted in the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, an empty magazine, ammunition of different calibres and one motorcycle. Six other motorcycles were destroyed on the spot.
The Commander 18 Brigade commended the troops for their courage, resilience and professionalism and urged them to sustain the operational tempo, strengthen vigilance and continue using credible information from local communities to disrupt terrorist and criminal activities.
The Brigade Commander also linked the ongoing offensive posture to the mandate of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu, to dominate the battlespace and degrade terrorism and other criminal activities, with particular emphasis on protecting vulnerable communities and securing lives and property.
🏷️ Tags: Nigerian Army, 18 Brigade, Niger State Security, Mariga, Rijau, Counterterrorism, Kidnap Rescue, Terrorist Infiltration, Quick Response Force, Military Operations, Defence & Security, Zig Press Release
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