Army Rescues 22 Kidnap Victims, Recovers Motorcycles in Niger's Rafi LGA

Troops of 18 Brigade rescue 22 kidnap victims in Muchiya village, Rafi LGA, Niger State, after terrorists fled into the forest upon sighting an advancing patrol, recovering three motorcycles in the process.

Rafi, Niger State — September 18, 2026

Troops of the Nigerian Army's 18 Brigade have rescued 22 kidnapped victims in Muchiya village, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, as part of intensified offensive operations aimed at denying terrorists freedom of movement within the brigade's area of responsibility.

According to Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Captain Adebayo Samuel Adewumi, troops of 18 Brigade Garrison, working alongside personnel of 45 Battalion, launched a fighting patrol after receiving credible intelligence on the convergence of terrorists in the area. On sighting the advancing troops, the terrorists fled in disarray into the surrounding forest.

Troops sustained pursuit of the fleeing terrorists along their escape routes, ultimately rescuing all 22 kidnapped victims and recovering three motorcycles along with other items abandoned in the chase. 

One victim, identified as Alhaji Hassan, had sustained injuries while in captivity and was promptly evacuated to a clinic, where he is reportedly responding to treatment.

All rescued victims were handed over to the leadership of the Muchiya community and have since been reunited with their families. 

The Commander of 18 Brigade commended the troops for their resilience, gallantry, and doggedness, and charged them to maintain the operational tempo to ensure continuous domination of the area.

The Rafi rescue adds to a string of counter-kidnapping successes recorded across Niger State this month, coming as security agencies continue intensified operations following the still-unresolved Borgu mosque mass abduction and a separate rescue of two victims from Wako village earlier in September, together illustrating both the scale of the kidnapping crisis across the state and the military's sustained operational tempo in responding to it.