Troops of the Nigerian Army’s Joint Task Force, Sector One, Operation Udo Ka (OPUK), working alongside the Neighbourhood Watch, have freed 14 abducted persons during a coordinated mission inside Orokam Forest, a border zone between Udenu LGA of Enugu State and Ogbadigbo LGA of Benue State.
Security sources informed Zagazola Makama that the operation was carried out around 1:30 p.m. on Friday after actionable intelligence from local residents revealed the location of a suspected kidnappers’ camp hidden within the forest.
According to one of the sources, soldiers deployed in Udenu LGA immediately moved to the scene with members of the Neighbourhood Watch.
“While approaching the hideout, the criminals opened fire on the troops. The joint team responded with a high volume of fire, forcing the kidnappers to flee in disarray and abandon the kidnapped victims,” the source said.
The sources confirmed that all 14 victims who were abducted while returning from a burial ceremony over the weekend were rescued safely and without injuries.
Preliminary findings showed that the abducted individuals were taken from two different communities: Ezimo Agu in Udenu LGA of Enugu State and Orokam in Ogbadigbo LGA of Benue State.
The victims were later handed over to the Divisional Police Officer of Udenu Division for immediate reunification with their families.
According to the source, troops fired 70 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition during the gunfight and returned to their base at about 7:21 p.m. without recording any casualty.
The sources added that security personnel have now intensified surveillance across the area to prevent criminal groups from regrouping or operating freely.
