Nigerian army high command has confirmed the killing of 17 soldiers in a deadly attack by terrorists in Niger State.

Army spokesperson, Lt-Col Appolonia Anele, who confirmed the killing in a statement, noted that the deadly attack on communities was thwarted by the soldiers.

According to Anele, in a deliberate joint operation, troops of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the Air Component of the Nigerian Air Force, successfully thwarted an attempted incursion by terrorists into Bangi Community, in Mariga Local Council of Niger, on Tuesday.

She said: “The operation, which was based on credible intelligence, led to troops engaging about 300 armed bandits in Kwanar Dutse Forest. The criminals had attempted a night-time transit towards Kwatankoro Forest, where they were reportedly planning coordinated attacks on surrounding communities or looking for a haven to evade the pressure from our operations in Zamfara State.

“However, their movement and actions were effectively disrupted by troops who engaged them in a fierce firefight that lasted over three hours.”

Sequel to the ground engagement by the Nigerian Army troops, he added, the Nigerian Air Force conducted precision airstrikes on the terrorists’ withdrawal routes, delivering accurate heavy bombardments on identified terrorists’ locations.

Although the exact casualty figure could not be ascertained at press time, The Guardian gathered that multiple blood trails along their escape routes presumably indicate significant enemy losses.

Anele said: “Further operation is ongoing to ascertain the extent of the damage inflicted on the terrorists. Regrettably, 17 brave and gallant soldiers paid the supreme price during the encounter, while 10 others sustained varying degrees of injury.”

Meanwhile, a wave of sorrow, fury, and frustration swept through the National Assembly on Tuesday as the Senate held an emotionally charged session to address two of Nigeria’s deadliest recent tragedies: the slaughter of over 200 civilians in Yelwata, Benue State, and the killing of 12 wedding-bound travellers in Plateau State.

The chamber fell into collective grief as lawmakers drew painful connections between the two atrocities, calling them stark reminders of Nigeria’s fragile security architecture, worsening communal violence, and growing public despair.

“What happened in Benue is not just a tragedy, it is genocide,” declared Sen Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central). And what happened in Plateau is a massacre of the innocent. This country is bleeding, and the blood is innocent.”

The first tragedy unfolded on the night of June 18, 2025, in Yelwata, Guma Local Council of Benue State, where gunmen stormed a peaceful farming community, murdering more than 200 civilians in a coordinated, overnight raid described by survivors and rights groups as systematic, targeted, and genocidal. Women, children, and the elderly were among the victims.

Barely three days later, on June 21, another chilling incident occurred in Mangun District of Plateau, where 12 wedding-bound travellers from Zaria, Kaduna State, were ambushed, killed, and set ablaze after reportedly stopping to ask for directions. The victims were riding in an official vehicle clearly marked with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) insignia.

Moved by emotion but driven by urgency, the Senate passed comprehensive resolutions responding to both attacks by strongly condemning the killings in Benue and Plateau as unacceptable, barbaric, and genocidal. It commended President Bola Tinubu for visiting the affected areas and ordering immediate security interventions.

The red chamber also called for a surge in troop deployment to Benue, Plateau, and other volatile regions, as it demanded swift arrests, prosecution, and public accountability for the perpetrators, urging full compensation and support for the families of victims.

They also insisted on implementing ranching as a sustainable solution to end farmer-herder conflicts and requested quarterly intelligence briefings to the Senate from national security agencies.
Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in 2023, Peter Obi, has told President Bola Tinubu to “accept the inevitable truth” that Nigeria is at war following the death of over 100 people during the violent clash between bandits and Zamfara Civilian Protection Guard on Monday.

In a statement, yesterday, the ex-governor of Anambra State said the President needed to stop cutting ribbons, headlining ceremonies on front pages and prioritise “the security of lives over infrastructure projects.”

On his part, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen Olufemi Oluyede, departed for Niger State to visit troops of the Nigerian Army and assess the recent security situation in the area following a recent encounter with terrorists in the area.

The visit came after a fierce battle between troops and terrorists, which resulted in significant casualties on both sides.

A credible source at Army Headquarters confirmed that the COAS was expected to meet with troops and commanders to assess the situation and provide guidance on intensifying the fight against terrorism.

The COAS has vowed to ensure that the military does everything possible to protect lives and property and to defeat the groups that have been terrorising communities in the region.