Army Troops Foil Bandit Attack in Niger State, Recover Weapons
Troops of the 22 Armoured Brigade stationed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Babana, Borgu LGA of Niger State, successfully repelled an attempted incursion by armed bandits in the early hours of Thursday, August 28, 2025.
According to a statement issued in Ilorin by Capt. Stephen Nwankwo, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the brigade, soldiers engaged the assailants around 2:50 a.m. after detecting suspicious movements near the Babana axis.
The swift response by the troops, armed with superior firepower, disrupted the bandits’ advance and forced them to retreat in disarray. A follow-up operation was launched shortly after, tracking the fleeing suspects to the outskirts of Babana town, where two of the bandits were neutralised.
Security forces recovered a cache of weaponry at the scene, including one AK-47 rifle, four fully loaded magazines containing 60 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 323 rounds of 7.62x54mm ammunition, and a mobile phone used by the suspects.
Despite the success of the operation, the army reported that one officer and a soldier sustained gunshot wounds to the legs during the clash. Both are currently receiving medical care and are in stable condition.
The bodies of the deceased bandits have been handed over to the relevant authorities for necessary procedures.
Brigadier General Ezra Barkins, Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, commended the troops for their rapid response, courage, and professionalism. He reiterated the brigade’s commitment to ongoing security operations, vowing to use every lawful means to root out criminal activity and ensure the safety of residents in the operational area.
