Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 63 Brigade/Sector 1 Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe, in collaboration with a tracker team from the Delta State Government House, Asaba, have killed three kidnappers and rescued a female victim in Otulo Forest, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The operation, conducted after credible intelligence, tracked the kidnappers to their hideout. The Army said the gang had earlier collected ransom from families of their victims before troops moved in.
“In the ensuing firefight that lasted about 30 minutes, three kidnappers were neutralised,” the Army said in a statement. “Troops recovered an AK-47 rifle, a magazine with 52 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, a cutlass, four mobile phones, a charger, a power bank, cigarettes, and ₦2.33 million abandoned by the criminals.”
One soldier sustained a gunshot wound to the leg, while the rescued woman also suffered injuries from her captors. Both were evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, and are in stable condition. The bodies of the slain kidnappers were handed over to the police at Ogwashi-Uku for further action.
In a separate operation, troops responding to a distress call in Ekrodo-Jesse, Ethiope West LGA, forced another group of kidnappers to abandon their victim and flee into a nearby forest. The rescued man, identified as 25-year-old Saviour Okiemute, has since been reunited with his family.
Although troops pursued the suspects for six kilometres, no contact was made. A cordon-and-search operation later uncovered an unsaved dane gun.
The Commander of 63 Brigade/ Sector 1 JTF OPDS, Brigadier General M.A. Shonibare, commended the troops, assuring residents that ongoing operations were aimed at strengthening peace and security in Delta State.
