Troops of the Nigerian military have neutralised several suspected bandits in what was described as a ‘tactical ambush’ and recovered their operational motorcycles during a counterterrorism operation along the Kontagora road corridor in Niger State, PRNigeria reports.
The encounter occurred on Saturday, 31 January, 2026, along the Dusai–Lioji axis in Mariga Local Government Area, as the armed group was reportedly moving through the area after operating within forest belts spanning parts of the North-West and North-Central.
Defence intelligence sources familiar with the operation disclosed that the group had emerged from a forest enclave around Yauri and was believed to be heading toward Zamfara State, suspected to be one of its operational bases.
Before the ambush, the assailants were said to have abducted dozens of persons from rural communities and extorted large sums as ransom from some of the victims.
Acting on actionable intelligence, military units deployed around Warari and Kontagora reportedly set up a coordinated ambush along the Dusai–Lioji corridor. The interception triggered a fierce exchange of gunfire, during which several members of the armed group were killed.
The defence intelligence source told PRNigeria that troops also recovered multiple motorcycles used by the suspects for rapid mobility across forest tracks and ungoverned spaces, a key logistics asset for bandit operations.
However, some members of the group reportedly fled into surrounding bush paths, with indications that a number of abducted victims may still be in their custody.
Credible security officials described the operation as part of sustained efforts to disrupt criminal corridors linking forest enclaves across Niger, Kebbi and Zamfara states, and to degrade the capacity of armed groups to conduct mass abductions along vulnerable rural routes.
Residents in affected communities have welcomed the military action, describing it as a sign of increased operational pressure on armed groups. They, however, urged security agencies to sustain clearance operations to secure the release of remaining captives and prevent renewed attacks along the Kontagora–Mariga axis.
By PRNigeria
