Troops Rescue 14 Hostages in Benue Forest
Troops of the Nigerian Army under the Joint Task Force Sector One, Operation Udo Ka (OPUK), have rescued 14 kidnapped victims during a coordinated clearance operation at Orokam Forest, a border corridor between Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State and Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State.
Reliable sources revealed that the operation was executed on Friday at about 1:30 p.m. following actionable intelligence from local residents, who reported the presence of a suspected kidnappers’ enclave deep within the forest.
According to the sources, troops deployed in Udenu swiftly mobilised to the identified location in collaboration with vigilante operatives of the Neighbourhood Watch.
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“As the joint team approached the hideout, the criminals opened fire. The troops responded with superior firepower, forcing the kidnappers to flee in disarray and abandon the abducted victims,” one of the sources said.
The 14 rescued persons were said to have been kidnapped while returning from a burial ceremony over the weekend. Preliminary findings revealed that the victims were abducted from two different communities—Ezimo Agu in Udenu LGA of Enugu State and Orokam in Ogbadigbo LGA of Benue State.
The rescued victims were later handed over to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Udenu Division, for immediate profiling and reunification with their families.
Sources also disclosed that troops expended 70 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition during the engagement and safely returned to base at about 7:21 p.m. without any casualty.
The Nigerian Army has reportedly intensified surveillance and patrols within the general area to deny criminal elements freedom of action.
By PRNigeria
