Troops Crush Insurgents In Kainji Lake Park, Recover Weapons

In a decisive strike against insurgents terrorising Niger State, troops of the 22 Armoured Brigade, under Operation Park Strike V, in joint action with Park Rangers, staged a successful ambush in the Zugurma sector of Kainji Lake National Park.

The operation, conducted in the early hours of Thursday, was based on credible intelligence tracking insurgent movements. According to Capt. Stephen Nwankwo, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the brigade, the troops laid in wait at the Tungan Talle crossing around 1:15 a.m. and engaged the insurgents in a fierce exchange of gunfire.

With superior firepower, the soldiers overpowered the criminals, neutralising an undisclosed number while others fled with injuries. Recovered from the scene were three AK-47 rifles and four motorcycles — critical assets often used by insurgents to navigate the park’s rough terrain.

Although one Park Ranger sustained gunshot injuries during the encounter, military sources confirmed he had been stabilised following prompt medical care.

Brigadier-General Ezra Barkins, Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, commended the gallantry of his men. Speaking from the Step-Up Headquarters at Wawa Cantonment, where he had relocated for more effective coordination, Barkins urged troops to maintain momentum until insurgents were completely flushed out of the park.

The Kainji Lake National Park — a vast ecological reserve — has in recent years become a hideout for armed groups, making the success of Thursday’s ambush a significant boost to ongoing security efforts in the region.