In a tragic but valiant military engagement, seventeen Nigerian soldiers paid the supreme price as troops of the Nigerian Army, in a combined operation with the Nigerian Air Force, successfully thwarted a deadly terrorist incursion into Bangi community, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State on 24 June 2025.
The joint operation was launched following credible intelligence of a planned night-time movement by roughly 300 armed bandits through the Kwanar Dutse Forest towards Kwatankoro. The terrorists were believed to be seeking a new base for coordinated attacks on surrounding communities, or a safe corridor to escape the mounting military pressure in Zamfara State.
The Army, in a daring response, engaged the insurgents in an intense gun battle that lasted over three hours. “Their movement and actions were effectively disrupted by troops who engaged them in a fierce firefight,” the Nigerian Army confirmed in a press release issued on Wednesday, 25 June by Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director Army Public Relations.
The confrontation was further intensified by precision airstrikes delivered by the Nigerian Air Force on the terrorists’ escape routes. These strikes, which targeted known terrorist hideouts, reportedly inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy, though exact numbers remain unconfirmed. “Multiple blood trails along their escape routes presumably indicate significant enemy losses,” the statement revealed.
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Regrettably, the operation came at a heavy cost. Seventeen gallant soldiers lost their lives, while ten others sustained various injuries and have since been evacuated to military medical facilities. “The wounded personnel… are receiving treatment and are in stable condition,” the Army assured.
In response to the tragic loss, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Oluwafemi Oluyede, expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families and assured that the Army would provide full support to them. He also directed that the best medical care be administered to the injured troops, reaffirming the Army’s commitment to the welfare of its personnel.
“The Nigerian Army remains resolute in its mission to secure all communities and protect the lives and property of all our citizens,” the statement affirmed. Citizens were also urged to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies by reporting any suspicious activity to aid ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
