Troops Thwart Major Terrorist Attack in Niger State, Heavy Casualties Recorded

In a decisive joint operation on June 24, 2025, Nigerian Army troops, supported by the Nigerian Air Force, successfully foiled a large-scale terrorist incursion targeting Bangi community in Mariga Local Government Area, Niger State. The operation was launched following credible intelligence reports of an impending attack by approximately 300 armed bandits moving through Kwanar Dutse Forest towards Kwatankoro Forest.

The terrorists aimed to launch coordinated assaults on nearby communities or establish a safe haven to escape intensified military pressure in Zamfara State. Nigerian troops engaged the militants in a fierce firefight lasting over three hours, effectively disrupting their plans. Subsequently, the Nigerian Air Force executed precision airstrikes on the militants’ retreat routes, inflicting significant damage.

While the exact number of terrorists neutralized remains unconfirmed, multiple blood trails along their escape paths suggest heavy enemy losses. Unfortunately, the encounter also resulted in the death of seventeen Nigerian soldiers, with ten others wounded. The injured have been evacuated to military medical facilities and are reported to be in stable condition.

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Lieutenant General Oluwafemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff, expressed profound condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and assured that the injured would receive the best medical care. He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to protecting citizens and eradicating terrorism and banditry nationwide.

The military urges the public to continue supporting counter-terrorism efforts by providing timely information to security agencies.