TROOPS OUTWIT KIDNAPPERS, RESCUE VICTIMS IN UMUNNE OCHI

It was a bad day for kidnappers as troops of the 14 Brigade operating under the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army hit the criminals hard and rescued 13 kidnap victims they abducted along the Ngodo-Isuochi road in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State. It was learnt that the troops arrived at the scene of the incident while responding to a distress call on Saturday, 22 July 2023, and found that a Sienna SUV and an L300 Mitsubishi bus with Registration Number UWN 190 AL Enugu had been attacked by kidnappers, and took the passengers hostage and escaped into surrounding bushes. Disclosing this in a statement, the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu explained that the troops on getting additional information from witnesses at the scene, went in pursuit of the kidnappers, and trailed them into the bushes. During the search and rescue operation, troops were said to have extricated five victims on the first day of the search and rescue operation, while a further search on Sunday, 23 July 2023, led to the rescue of additional eight victims, totalling 13 rescued persons. The rescued victims have been handed over to the Nigerian Police in Umunne Ochi. The Nigerian Army, therefore, appeals to all law-abiding citizens to continue to support the troops and other security agencies with timely and actionable information, as they combat security challenges across the country.