Troops of Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA have thwarted an attempted kidnap of a prominent South-East personality in the Umuaka community of Njaba LGA, Imo State. Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, the spokesman of the Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA, announced in a statement on Saturday in Enugu that the kidnap attempt was foiled by troops on routine patrol on Friday, May 17, 2024.
Unuakhalu reported that the troops, while patrolling the Umuaka area along the Orlu-Owerri Road, were alerted to the kidnapping incident and the escape route taken by the kidnappers.
“The troops swiftly pursued the kidnappers and made contact with them,” Unuakhalu stated. “In the firefight that ensued, the troops professionally neutralized one of the kidnappers and injured two others despite their attempts to use passers-by as human shields. The troops recovered one AK 47 rifle with two loaded magazines and a motorcycle.”
Additionally, troops in conjunction with personnel from the Naval Base in Oguta neutralized a member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) terrorist group in Amagberedere village, Oguta LGA. During a raid on the suspected hideout of the dissidents, the irredentists opened fire on sighting the troops, who responded and neutralized one terrorist, recovering one pump-action shotgun and two cartridges.
Unuakhalu commended the communities of Umuaka and Oguta for providing timely intelligence and encouraged the public to continue offering information that could lead to the arrest of criminal elements terrorizing law-abiding citizens in the South-East.
“The Force Commander, Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, seeks the support of all for the restoration of peace in Imo State and the South-East in general,” Unuakhalu stated. He also urged residents to report security concerns to the military using the mobile phone number 193, pressing Number 2 for quick intervention.
