Troops of Sector 1, Joint Task Force Southeast, Operation UDO KA (OPUK) have rescued 14 kidnap victims from Orokam forest in Enugu State after fierce gunbattle with the criminals.
Orakam forest is located between Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu and Ogbadigbo in Benue State.
The rescue of the victims, according to the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Col. Appolonia Anele, followed actionable intelligence from vigilant community sources.
“Acting swiftly, troops working in concert with local vigilantes mounted an assault on a suspected kidnap hideout concealed deep in the forest. On contact, the criminals unleashed gunfire, prompting a fierce engagement.
“The joint force’s superior firepower, tactical manoeuvre and relentless advance forced the kidnappers to break contact and flee, abandoning the abductees,” she said.
Anele said the victims were kidnapped over the weekend while returning from a burial, adding that they were being held in dispersed clusters across the forest. “Intelligence further indicated that the victims were abducted from two separate communities: Ezimo Agu in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State and Orokam in Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State.
“All rescued persons have been formally handed over to the Divisional Police Officer, Udenu Division, for proper profiling and subsequent reunification with their families.
“Nigerian Army troops continue to maintain aggressive battlespace dominance across the theatre of operations general area, reaffirming the Nigerian Army’s resolve to neutralise all threats and uphold peace and security throughout the Southeast,” she added.
Also, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has crushed a notorious kidnapping operation following the dislodgement of a criminal camp and the rescue of seven abducted victims in a high-risk, cross-border security raid.
The dramatic operation was triggered by a distress call received by the Police on December 5, this year, reporting that armed kidnappers had invaded a community in Ushafa, Abuja, and whisked away several residents under the cover of darkness.
Following the development, a joint security task force made up of operatives from the FCT Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Nigerian Army and Department of State Services (DSS) swung into action the following day, launching a coordinated manhunt for the abductors.
Guided by credible intelligence, the security team traced the suspects’ movements through the outskirts of Mpape community and onward into settlements linking Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
In a statement yesterday, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police Josephine Adeh said: “Demonstrating remarkable gallantry, the joint security team continued the pursuit for over seven hours across difficult mountainous terrain. Their efforts led them to the suspects’ camp in Kweri Forest, Kaduna State, where another exchange of gunfire ensued. The sustained pressure forced the kidnappers to flee, prompting the operatives to rescue an additional six victims. All rescued victims were taken to the hospital, where they are receiving medical attention and are in stable condition.”
Adeh said the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Miller Dantawaye, commended the bravery and professionalism of the operatives.