20 Soldiers Feared Dead, Scores of Bandits Neutralized in Niger State Clashes

At least 20 soldiers are feared to have been killed following fierce clashes with heavily armed bandits who invaded two military camps in the Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State on Tuesday. While initial reports indicated 20 fatalities, the Nigerian Army has officially confirmed the loss of 17 brave and gallant soldiers, with 10 others sustaining various degrees of injury. Scores of bandits were also neutralized during the intense gun battles.

The coordinated attacks, involving over 200 bandits on motorcycles, targeted military camps at Kwanan Duse and Gulbin Boka communities in Mariga. According to sources, the bandits’ initial assault on the Kwanan Duse camp led to a fierce gun battle lasting approximately four hours. Reinforcement from the Kontagora military cantonment was dispatched, but before their arrival at Kwanan Duse, the bandits had moved to Gulbin Boka for another onslaught.

Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, confirmed the encounters, stating that troops, in collaboration with the Air Component of the Nigerian Air Force, engaged over 300 armed bandits in the Kwanar Dutse Forest. She explained that the operation was based on credible intelligence indicating the criminals were attempting a night-time transit towards Kwatankoro Forest, possibly to launch coordinated attacks or evade military pressure from Zamfara State.

“Sadly, 17 brave and gallant soldiers paid the supreme price during the encounter, while 10 others sustained varying degrees of injury,” Lieutenant Colonel Anele stated. She added that the wounded personnel have been evacuated to a military medical facility and are in stable condition. While the exact number of bandit casualties could not be immediately ascertained, the Army reported multiple blood trails along their escape routes, indicating significant losses for the criminals.

The Chairman of Mariga Local Government, Abbas Adamu, confirmed the incidents, stating that the gunmen are suspected to have infiltrated the state from Zamfara through the Shadadi forest. He noted that the bandits’ likely aim was to dislodge the military from their camps to gain unhindered access to communities in the council.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, at a separate event, reiterated the military’s commitment to deploying over 800 well-trained special forces into operational areas to tackle the nation’s myriad security challenges. Meanwhile, the military, in conjunction with local vigilante groups, has mobilized to the Gulbin Boka forest along the Kontagora-Rijau road, suspected to be a hideout for the bandits, as search operations continue.

The recent attacks underscore the persistent security challenges in Niger State, a North-Central region frequently plagued by banditry, cattle rustling, and kidnappings.