Benue Military Operation Frees 14 Hostages from Orokam Forest

During a coordinated expedition inside Orokam Forest, a border zone between Udenu LGA of Enugu State and Ogbadigbo LGA of Benue State, troops from the Nigerian Army’s Joint Task Force, Sector One, Operation Udo Ka (OPUK), in collaboration with Neighbourhood Watch, released 14 kidnapped individuals.

Zagazola Makama was briefed by security sources that the operation was conducted on Friday at approximately 1:30 p.m. after locals provided actionable intelligence that indicated the location of a suspected kidnappers’ camp concealed within the forest.

One of the sources claims that troops stationed in Udenu LGA went straight to the scene with Neighbourhood Watch members.

The outlaws opened fire on the troops as they got closer to the hideout. The kidnappers were forced to flee in confusion and abandon the abducted victims as a result of the joint team’s heavy fire response, according to the source.

All 14 of the victims who were kidnapped over the weekend while coming from a funeral were safely and unharmedly recovered, according to the sources.

According to preliminary results, the kidnapped people were from two distinct communities: Orokam in Ogbadigbo LGA, Benue State, and Ezimo Agu in Udenu LGA, Enugu State.

Later, the casualties were turned over to the Udenu Division Divisional Police Officer so they could be reunited with their relatives right away.

The source claims that during the shootout, troops shot 70 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and returned to their base at approximately 7:21 p.m. without reporting any casualties.

In order to stop criminal gangs from regrouping or working freely, security agents have now increased monitoring throughout the area, according to the sources.