Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation UDO KA have successfully rescued 14 kidnapped victims during a sweeping clearance mission inside Orokam Forest in Benue State, an area that shares a boundary with Udenu Local Government Area in Enugu State.
According to a reliable military source, the victims were abducted last weekend while returning home from a burial ceremony. They were freed on Friday after soldiers, working alongside a local vigilance group, launched a coordinated assault on the kidnappers’ hideout based on credible intelligence.
The source revealed that the armed gang engaged the troops in a brief exchange of gunfire but was quickly overpowered by the soldiers’ superior firepower, forcing the criminals to flee and abandon their captives.
Early findings indicated that the victims were taken from two separate communities, Ezimo Agu in Udenu LGA of Enugu State and Orokam in Ogbadigbo LGA of Benue State. They were reportedly held in scattered clusters deep within the thick forest.
The rescued individuals have been handed over to the Divisional Police Officer in Udenu for documentation and arrangements to reunite them with their families.
In a statement issued over the weekend, Army spokesperson Lt Col Appolonia Anele confirmed the operation, noting that it was carried out along the Orokam forest corridor linking both Udenu and Ogbadigbo LGAs. She reiterated that the victims were seized while returning from burial events held at different locations.
Anele further assured that troops would continue to maintain strong operational presence across the area as part of efforts to eliminate criminal threats and enhance security in the South East.
This development underscores the Nigerian Army’s ongoing commitment to protecting communities and restoring peace across the region.
