Latest news with #NigerianArmy
News24
a day ago
- News24
Soldiers killed in bandit attacks on Nigerian Army bases
At least 17 soldiers were killed when armed gangs attacked three of the army's forward operating bases in central and northwestern Nigeria. In what appeared to be a coordinated assault, the gangs, commonly referred to locally as bandits, attacked bases on Tuesday in the states of Niger and Kaduna. The attackers engaged troops in prolonged firefights lasting several hours. 'Sadly, some gallant warriors paid the supreme price in the day-long battles while four troops wounded in action are currently receiving treatment for their gunshot wounds,' the army said in a statement on Wednesday. One officer told the AFP news agency, 'bandits attacked the camp while others laid ambush on soldiers outside.' Nigerian Army launched counteroffensive The Nigerian Army confirmed the attacks and said it had launched counteroffensives in coordination with the Nigerian Air Force, which resulted in 'significant enemy losses'. Armed groups operating in the northwest are known for mass kidnappings for ransom and frequent attacks on security personnel. They maintain camps in a vast forest that spans parts of Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna states in the northwest, as well as Niger state in the central region. In addition to fighting armed gangs, the Nigerian military continues to face persistent threats from Boko Haram and 'Islamic State'-affiliated groups operating in the region. Earlier in June, gunmen killed scores of people in Benue state. Amnesty International Nigeria said that at least 100 people were killed, and police later reported that 26 suspects were arrested in connection with the attack.
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Gunmen kill 17 soldiers in northern Nigeria attacks
Armed gangs in Nigeria, known locally as bandits, typically target security forces. (EPA Images pic) LAGOS : At least 17 soldiers were killed in northern Nigeria when gunmen stormed three army bases, security sources and a local official said today, the latest assault in a region plagued by violence. Armed gangs operating in the northwest, known locally as bandits, typically engage in kidnapping for ransom and target security forces. The Nigerian army confirmed the attacks yesterday but did not provide details. 'Sadly, some gallant warriors paid the supreme price in the day-long battles while four troops wounded in action are currently receiving treatment for their gunshot wounds,' the army said in a statement. Two security sources said gunmen launched surprise attacks on the army's forward operating bases in the Kwanar Dutse Mariga and Boka areas in Niger state and another base in neighbouring Kaduna state, battling troops for several hours. The sources and Abbas Kasuwar Garba, chairman for Mariga district, said all 17 fatalities were at the Kwanar Dutse Mariga base. 'It was an ambush. They (gunmen) came from nowhere and used heavy ammunition to attack,' said a Niger-based army officer. The Nigerian army said it launched counter-attacks, killing several gunmen. Insecurity has stretched Nigeria's military, as it confronts armed gangs alongside Islamist groups Boko Haram and an Islamic State affiliate in the northeast. Niger state has witnessed ambushes against military personnel, with Boko Haram fighters known to operate there.
Arabian Post
2 days ago
- Arabian Post
Northern Bases Ambushed, 17 Soldiers Slain in Niger State
Seventeen Nigerian soldiers have died and ten more were wounded after coordinated attacks on three military bases in Niger and Kaduna states, the army confirmed. The assaults began in the early hours of Tuesday, as heavily armed gunmen stormed forward operating posts in Kwanar Dutse and Boka, along with a base in neighbouring Kaduna State. Combat persisted for several hours under heavy fire. Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele stated that the attackers numbered around 300 and emerged from Kwanar Dutse Forest. Troops engaged in a fierce, three‑hour firefight before calling in Nigerian Air Force precision airstrikes on retreating militants. The operation reportedly inflicted severe losses on the assailants. The fallen soldiers were flown to a military hospital, where those injured are currently stable. Local officials and military sources confirm that all 17 fatalities occurred at the Kwanar Dutse Mariga base. 'It was an ambush,' said Abbas Kasuwar Garba, chairman of Mariga district. 'They came from nowhere and used heavy ammunition to attack.' ADVERTISEMENT The Nigerian Army has launched a robust counteroffensive following the attack. A statement from the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Oluwafemi Oluyede, extended condolences to grieving families and underscored that all efforts are being made to treat the injured and pursue the perpetrators. Analysts note that this attack fits a disturbing pattern of escalating violence in the northwest, where criminal networks—often referred to locally as bandits—frequently clash with military forces and kidnap civilians. These criminal groups, some with suspected ties to Islamic insurgent factions, have increasingly targeted security facilities. This incident echoes past offensives, such as the April 2022 assault on a base in Birnin Gwari, Kaduna, where 17 soldiers were similarly killed. Militants in that attack used motorbikes and rocket‑propelled grenades, overrunning the facility in broad daylight. The involvement of a large number of assailants is a cause for concern. The military's use of both ground troops and air support suggests a coordinated response, yet the presence of hundreds of heavily armed fighters highlights porous security in enclaves like Kwanar Dutse Forest and the Boka region. Efforts to strengthen defences in vulnerable areas have continued, though the army has acknowledged difficulties maintaining forward posts and protecting communities. Bandits and militants appear adept at exploiting forested terrain and intelligence gaps, enabling them to mount sudden, lethal raids. Niger State has suffered a steep rise in such attacks over the past year, with bases and outposts frequently targeted. The military has frequently responded with joint operations and airstrikes—yet the death toll among soldiers remains troublingly high. In response to this latest tragedy, military authorities have reiterated their commitment to bolstering frontline capabilities, expanding intelligence gathering, and launching targeted operations in bandit‑infested zones. Plans are reportedly under discussion to reposition troops, upgrade armoury, and intensify patrols. At the same time, analysts caution that unless root causes—such as criminal networks, forest hideouts, and cross‑border militant ties—are comprehensively addressed, similar ambushes are likely to recur.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Arab News
Gunmen kill 17 soldiers in northern Nigeria attacks
LAGOS: At least 17 soldiers were killed in northern Nigeria when gunmen stormed three army bases, security sources and a local official said on Wednesday, the latest assault in a region plagued by violence. Armed gangs operating in the northwest, known locally as bandits, typically engage in kidnapping for ransom and target security forces. The Nigerian Army confirmed the attacks on Tuesday but did not provide details. 'Sadly, some gallant warriors paid the supreme price in the day-long battles while four troops wounded in action are currently receiving treatment for their gunshot wounds,' the army said in a statement. Two security sources said gunmen launched surprise attacks on the army's forward operating bases in the Kwanar Dutse Mariga and Boka areas in Niger State and another base in neighboring Kaduna State, battling troops for several hours. The sources and Abbas Kasuwar Garba, chairman for Mariga district, said all 17 fatalities were at the Kwanar Dutse Mariga base. 'It was an ambush. They (gunmen) came from nowhere and used heavy ammunition to attack,' said a Niger-based army officer. The Nigerian Army said it launched counterattacks, killing several gunmen. Insecurity has stretched Nigeria's military, as it confronts armed gangs alongside militant groups Boko Haram and a Daesh affiliate in the northeast. Niger State has witnessed ambushes against military personnel, with Boko Haram fighters known to operate there.
DW
3 days ago
- DW
Soldiers killed in bandit attacks on Nigerian Army bases – DW – 06/25/2025
Armed gangs overran the army bases engaging in prolonged firefights with troops deployed to battle criminal gangs and jihadists. The military responded with a counteroffensive operation. At least 17 soldiers were killed when armed gangs attacked three of the army's forward operating bases in central and northwestern Nigeria. In what appeared to be a coordinated assault, the gangs, commonly referred to locally as bandits, attacked bases on Tuesday in the states of Niger and Kaduna. The attackers engaged troops in prolonged firefights lasting several hours. "Sadly, some gallant warriors paid the supreme price in the day-long battles while four troops wounded in action are currently receiving treatment for their gunshot wounds," the army said in a statement on Wednesday. One officer told the AFP news agency, "bandits attacked the camp while others laid ambush on soldiers outside." The Nigerian Army confirmed the attacks and said it had launched counteroffensives in coordination with the Nigerian Air Force, which resulted in "significant enemy losses." Armed groups operating in the northwest are known for mass kidnappings for ransom and frequent attacks on security personnel. They maintain camps in a vast forest that spans parts of Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna states in the northwest, as well as Niger state in the central region. In addition to fighting armed gangs, the Nigerian military continues to face persistent threats from Boko Haram and "Islamic State"-affiliated groups operating in the region. Earlier in June, gunmen killed scores of people in Benue state. Amnesty International Nigeria said that at least 100 people were killed, and police later reported that 26 suspects were arrested in connection with the attack.
