Troops of 18 Brigade have intensified offensive operations against terrorists and other criminal elements within the Brigade Area of Responsibility (AOR), recording significant successes across Mariga and Rijau Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Niger State.
On Wednesday, 12 August 2026, troops of Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) Admin Battalion, deployed at Kotonkoro, while conducting sustained offensive operations against terrorist elements, successfully rescued nine kidnapped victims in Mariga LGA. The victims were subsequently handed over to representatives of the Mariga Local Government authorities for documentation and onward reunification with their families.
In a separate operation on the same day, troops conducting a fighting patrol in the Warari general area of Rijau LGA encountered and successfully cleared a terrorist ambush. During the exploitation of the area, troops recovered seven motorcycles, one camel, 47 cattle and 18 sheep, suspected to have been rustled from local communities. The recovered livestock have been handed over to the appropriate authorities.
Similarly, on Monday, 10 August 2026, troops of the Brigade’s Quick Response Force, in conjunction with troops of 311 Artillery Regiment (AR) and Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Battalion X (CSIB X), successfully foiled an attempted terrorist attack and infiltration of Inana Village at Majal and Tunga Bisallah villages in Rijau LGA.
Acting on credible intelligence and maintaining an effective presence in the area, the troops intercepted the terrorists as they attempted to infiltrate the communities. On sighting the troops, the terrorists, who were mounted on motorcycles, fled towards the nearby forest. The troops engaged them, forcing them to abandon their equipment and motorcycles, while some of the fleeing terrorists were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds.
During subsequent exploitation of the area, troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, one empty magazine and ammunition of different calibres. One motorcycle was also recovered, while six other motorcycles were destroyed on the spot.
The Commander 18 Brigade, commended the troops for their courage, resilience and professionalism, urging them to sustain the operational tempo, remain vigilant and intensify efforts to degrade and dismantle terrorist and criminal elements operating within the State.
The Brigade Commander further charged the troops to continue leveraging credible information from local communities to disrupt criminal activities and deny terrorists freedom of action. He noted that the successes recorded so far reflect the commitment and resolve of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shuaibu NAM, to dominate the battlespace, intensify offensive operations, and degrade terrorism and other criminal activities.
In line with the COAS mandate, he urged troops to pursue and eliminate criminal elements within the Brigade Area of Responsibility, in order to safeguard vulnerable communities as well as security of lives and property.
