Troops of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, in conjunction with the Joint Task Force (JTF) South East under Operation UDO KA, have successfully rescued a kidnapped cleric in Enugu State following a rapid, intelligence-led operation.
A credible military source told the News men on Friday in Abuja that the victim, Rev. Johnson Anayo Onugwu, was abducted from his residence in Ezimo community, Udenu Local Government Area, in the early hours of Thursday but was rescued unharmed later the same day.
The source explained that troops of the 82 Division Garrison, working alongside other security agencies, acted on actionable intelligence, tracing the kidnappers to the Itabolo general area before confronting them at Okpakeke community.
“During the ensuing encounter, one of the kidnappers was neutralised, while the others fled the scene. No casualty was recorded on the side of the troops,” the source said.
Recovered from the criminals were one AK-47 rifle, two magazines, and ammunition, the source added.
He reiterated the army’s commitment to sustaining offensive operations against criminal elements across the South East and assured the public of continued collaboration with sister security agencies to safeguard lives and property.
