A joint military operation has successfully secured the release of Lieutenant Colonel Ofor Amobi and a civilian, Mr. Ikechukwu Onwuanra, ending a harrowing ten-day abduction in Enugu State. The rescue mission, which culminated in the early hours of Friday, followed a period of intense pressure exerted by security forces on the captors.
The specialized operation involved personnel from the 82 Division Garrison, the 103 Battalion, the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service, and the 197 Special Forces Battalion. These troops conducted exhaustive searches across the forests and surrounding communities of Inyi, Awlaw, and Akpugo-Eze, located within the Oji River area.
The breakthrough occurred around two in the morning on Friday, when the Divisional Police Officer of Inyi provided critical intelligence regarding the location of the captives. Acting immediately, the combined forces launched a tactical patrol, discovering the victims abandoned at the edge of the Inyi forest.
Both men were found with gunshot wounds and were promptly evacuated to the 82 Division Medical Hospital for emergency care and evaluation. Initial accounts from the victims suggest they were blindfolded and moved between multiple unknown locations before eventually being left in a forest near the Enugu-Anambra border.
The victims emphasized that the relentless search operations left the kidnappers with no room to maneuver, ultimately forcing them to abandon their hostages. Authorities have indicated that further information regarding the case will be provided as the investigation continues.
