Soldiers Raid Benue Kidnap Cell, Rescue 14 Victims

Troops from Sector 1, Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA have rescued 14 kidnap victims in a high-impact raid within Orokam Forest corridor in Ogbadigbo local government area of Benue State linking Udenu local government area of Enugu State.

Army Headquarters sources said the operation was prompted by intelligence reports from vigilant community sources.

According to the source, troops working with vigilantes mounted an assault on a suspected kidnap hideout deep in the Orokam forest.

He said the criminals on seeing the troops opened gunfire on the soldiers, resulting in a fierce engagement.

“The joint force’s superior firepower, tactical maneuver and relentless advance forced the kidnappers to break contact and flee, abandoning the abductees,” our source said.

He said the rescued victims were seized over the weekend while returning from a burial and were being held in dispersed clusters across the forest.

Intelligence reports further indicated that the victims were abducted from two separate communities: Ezimo Agu in Udenu LGA of Enugu State and Orokam in Ogbadigbo LGA of Benue State.

All rescued persons were handed over to the Divisional Police Officer in Udenu Division for proper profiling and subsequent reunification with their families.