Joint Forces Decimate Kidnap Cell in Orokam Forest, Rescue 14 Captives After Fierce Firefight

Troops of Sector 1, Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA (OPUK), have executed a successful precision strike against criminal elements, leading to the extraction and rescue of 14 kidnapped victims in the Orokam Forest corridor. 

The operation was conducted along the critical boundary linking Udenu LGA of Enugu State and Ogbadigbo LGA of Benue State, reaffirming the Nigerian Army’s unwavering resolve to neutralize threats in the region.

The swift operation was mounted following actionable intelligence received from vigilant community sources regarding a suspected kidnap hideout deep within the forest.

 Troops worked in concert with local vigilantes to launch a deliberate assault on the hideout.

 Upon contact, the criminal elements opened fire, initiating a fierce engagement.

 The superior firepower, tactical maneuver, and relentless advance of the joint force overwhelmed the kidnappers, forcing them to break contact and flee, abandoning the 14 abductees.

The victims had been seized over the weekend while returning from a burial ceremony and were found being held in dispersed clusters across the forest.

Intelligence gathered indicated that the captives were abducted from two separate communities:

Ezimo Agu in Udenu LGA of Enugu State.

Orokam in Ogbadigbo LGA of Benue State.

All rescued persons have been formally handed over to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Udenu Division, for proper profiling and subsequent reunification with their families.

The Nigerian Army troops continue to maintain aggressive battlespace dominance across the theatre of operations, ensuring peace and security throughout the South East region.