Army rescues abducted Lt-Col, civilian after 10-day search in Enugu

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Photo: NAN

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Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued a kidnapped senior military officer, Lt.-Col. Ofor Amobi, and a civilian, Mr Ikechukwu Onwuanra, after a 10-day joint search-and-rescue operation in Enugu State.

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This is contained in a military operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.

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The military said the victims were rescued in the early hours of Friday, following sustained pressure on their abductors.

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The military said troops of Sector 1 of 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, carried out the operation.

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It said the troops, led by the Commander, 82 Division Garrison, conducted intensive searches across Inyi, Awlaw and Akpugo-Eze forests and communities in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State.

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According to the report, troops received intelligence from the Divisional Police Officer of Inyi Division at about 2:00 a.m. on Friday on the whereabouts of the victims.

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It said the troops immediately launched a fighting patrol to the location where the victims were found abandoned at the edge of a forest in Inyi.

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The military said both victims had sustained gunshot wounds and were rescued before being evacuated to the 82 Division Medical Hospital for treatment and medical evaluation.

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It added that preliminary interrogation revealed the victims had been blindfolded, transported to an unknown location and later abandoned within a forest along the Enugu-Anambra border.

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“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,” it said.

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The military said further details on the operation would be made available later.

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(NAN)

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