A fierce and prolonged gun battle between Nigerian soldiers and suspected armed bandits in the Bangi axis of Mariga Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State has tragically resulted in the confirmed deaths of seventeen soldiers. The confrontation, which occurred late on Tuesday night, was part of a coordinated military operation aimed at repelling a significant incursion by heavily armed criminals into the volatile region. In addition to the fatalities, ten soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries and are currently receiving treatment at a military medical facility, reported to be in stable condition.

The Nigerian Army, through its Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, described the engagement as a "deliberate joint operation" involving ground troops supported by aerial components from the Nigerian Air Force. Credible intelligence had indicated the advance of approximately 300 terrorists through the Kwanar Dutse forest, reportedly in transit towards the Kwatankoro forest. These criminals were believed to be seeking to regroup, stage further attacks on nearby communities, or evade sustained military pressure from operations in Zamfara State. Troops engaged the bandits in a fierce firefight that lasted over three hours, successfully disrupting their movement and plans.

Local sources corroborated the intensity of the clash, reporting sustained gunfire through the night in areas such as Konan Dutse Kaiyan Ghana near Bangi, and earlier around Gulunbi Boka. The Chairman of Mariga LGA, Abbas Garba (also identified as Abbas Adamu Kasuwan-Garba), confirmed the recovery of the seventeen soldiers' corpses, which were subsequently transported to the Nigerian Army Barracks in Kontagora. He also stated that search-and-rescue operations are ongoing in the forests, involving local vigilante groups and security forces. While many bandits were neutralized, local concerns remain high regarding community safety.

Further details from local accounts indicated that the bandits, who had moved into Niger State from Zamfara, launched their attack around 11 AM on Tuesday, after reportedly spending the night near the military base at Kwanan-Dutse. Immediate reinforcement from the Kontagora military barracks forced some bandits to retreat, but they later engaged soldiers stationed at Gulbin-Boka, where they succeeded in setting one military vehicle ablaze. Beyond the direct confrontation, the bandits also rustled cows, burgled shops, and carted away food items and valuables belonging to locals. Affected communities included Kwanan Dutse, Kakihum, Chika Rumbu, Gulbin Boko, Mohoro-Boka, and Farar-Doka, with residents fleeing to towns like Kontagora, Rijau, Ibeto, and Bangi. The strategic importance of the Kwanan-Dutse outpost was underscored, as it served as a vital shield against terrorist infiltration into several local government areas.

The scale of the attack and the military casualties highlight the persistent security challenges in Nigeria’s North-central region, where armed groups remain active despite repeated military offensives. The Niger State House of Assembly Speaker, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, condemned the soldiers' killings as barbaric and a significant setback for the farming communities, noting that his entire constituency is under siege. He urged the military to pursue and bring the perpetrators to justice. Similarly, Peter Obi, the Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate, called upon President Bola Tinubu to acknowledge that Nigeria is "at war" and prioritize the security of lives over infrastructure projects. In response to the incident, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, visited Niger State to assess the situation and provide guidance for intensifying counter-terrorism efforts, vowing to protect lives and defeat terror groups in the region.