A joint military task force has rescued an abducted senior Nigerian Army officer, Lt. Col. Ofor Amobi, and a civilian, Mr. Ikechukwu Onwuanra, after a 10-day search-and-rescue operation in Enugu State.

The victims were recovered in the early hours of Friday (or Saturday, according to some reports), following sustained pressure on their abductors. 

Troops of Sector 1 of Operation UDO KA carried out the mission. The force included personnel from the 82 Division Garrison, 103 Battalion, the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service, and the 197 Special Forces Battalion, led by the Commander of the 82 Division Garrison, with air component support.

Troops conducted intensive searches across the forests and communities of Inyi, Awlaw, and Akpugo-Eze in Oji River Local Government Area. Around 2:00 a.m., the Divisional Police Officer of Inyi Division provided intelligence on the victims’ location. 

The troops immediately launched a fighting patrol and found Lt. Col. Amobi and Mr. Onwuanra abandoned at the edge of a forest in Inyi.Both victims had sustained gunshot wounds.

They were evacuated first to Inyi and then to the 82 Division Medical Hospital for treatment and evaluation.

During preliminary debriefing, the victims said they were blindfolded shortly after their abduction, taken to an unknown location, and later abandoned in a forest along the Enugu-Anambra border as security forces intensified operations. 

They credited their rescue to the continuous pressure from the joint troops, which restricted the kidnappers’ movement and forced them to abandon their captives.

Military sources said efforts continue to identify, track, and arrest those responsible for the abduction. 

Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users