By Opeyemi Adelakun
Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued an abducted senior military officer, Lt. Col. Ofor Amobi, and a civilian, Ikechukwu Onwuanra, following a 10-day joint search-and-rescue operation in Enugu State.
According to a military operational report released on Saturday, the victims were rescued in the early hours of Friday after sustained pressure mounted by security forces forced their captors to abandon them.
The operation was conducted by troops of Sector 1, Operation UDO KA, comprising personnel of the 82 Division Garrison, 103 Battalion (Reinforced), the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service, and the 197 Special Forces Battalion.
The report said the troops, led by the Commander of the 82 Division Garrison, carried out intensive search operations across Inyi, Awlaw and Akpugo-Eze forests and surrounding communities in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Military authorities said the breakthrough came after intelligence received from the Divisional Police Officer of Inyi Division at about 2:00 a.m. on Friday revealed the location of the victims.
Acting on the intelligence, troops immediately launched a fighting patrol and found both victims abandoned at the edge of a forest in Inyi.
The report disclosed that the rescued victims sustained gunshot wounds and were immediately evacuated to the 82 Division Medical Hospital for treatment and further medical evaluation.
According to the military, preliminary interrogation revealed that the victims had been blindfolded, moved to an unknown 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 stated.
The military added that further details of the operation would be released as investigations continue.
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