By Tunji Braimoh, Abuja

Troops of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, have successfully rescued an abducted senior military officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ofor Amobi, and a civilian, Mr. Ikechukwu Onwuanra, following a sustained 10-day search-and-rescue operation in Enugu State.

The successful operation was disclosed in a military operational report released on Saturday in Abuja. According to the report, the victims were rescued in the early hours of Friday after intense pressure mounted by security forces forced their captors to abandon them.

The operation was conducted by troops of Sector 1 of Operation UDO KA, comprising personnel from the 82 Division Garrison, 103 Battalion (Reinforced), the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service, and the 197 Special Forces Battalion.

Military authorities said the operation was led by the Commander of the 82 Division Garrison, who coordinated extensive search missions across the forests and surrounding communities of Inyi, Awlaw, and Akpugo-Eze in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State.

According to the report, troops received credible intelligence from the Divisional Police Officer of Inyi Division at approximately 2:00 a.m. on Friday regarding the possible location of the kidnapped victims.

Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the troops launched a fighting patrol to the identified area and discovered the victims abandoned on the edge of a forest in Inyi.

The military revealed that both victims had sustained gunshot wounds during their ordeal. They were immediately evacuated to the 82 Division Medical Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment and undergoing further medical evaluation.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the victims had been blindfolded and moved to an undisclosed location before being abandoned in a forested area along the Enugu-Anambra border.

According to military authorities, the victims credited their rescue to the relentless pressure exerted by the joint security forces, which significantly restricted the kidnappers’ movement and operational freedom.

“The sustained offensive operations by the joint troops denied the kidnappers the ability to move freely and ultimately compelled them to abandon their captives,” the report stated.

The military reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks and enhancing security across the South-East region. It added that further details regarding the operation and efforts to apprehend the fleeing kidnappers would be made available as investigations progress.

The rescue operation underscores the growing synergy among the military, police, and other security agencies in combating kidnapping and other violent crimes, while reinforcing public confidence in the nation’s security architecture.