Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued a senior military officer, Lt. Col. Ofor Amobi, and a civilian, Mr. Ikechukwu Onwuanra, who were kidnapped in Enugu State.
The rescue followed a 10-day joint search-and-rescue operation involving personnel of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, and Special Forces.
According to a military operational report released on Saturday, the victims were rescued in the early hours of Friday after sustained pressure forced their abductors to abandon them.
The report stated that troops from Sector 1 of Operation UDO KA, including personnel of the 82 Division Garrison, 103 Battalion (Reinforced), Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service, and the 197 Special Forces Battalion, carried out the operation.
Led by the Commander of the 82 Division Garrison, the troops conducted extensive searches across forests and surrounding communities in Inyi, Awlaw, and Akpugo-Eze in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State.
According to the military, the breakthrough came after intelligence provided by the Divisional Police Officer of the Inyi Division around 2 a.m. on Friday revealed the victims’ location.
“Troops immediately launched a fighting patrol to the area where the victims were found abandoned at the edge of a forest in Inyi,” the report stated.
The military disclosed that both victims sustained gunshot wounds and were evacuated to the 82 Division Medical Hospital, where they are receiving treatment and undergoing medical evaluation.
Preliminary findings showed that the victims were blindfolded by their abductors, taken to an undisclosed location, and later abandoned in a forest along the Enugu-Anambra border.
“The victims attributed their rescue to the sustained pressure mounted by the joint troops, which denied the kidnappers freedom of movement and compelled them to abandon their captives,” the report added.
The military said additional details of the operation would be released as investigations continue.
