Troops of the 14 Brigade operating under the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army have rescued 13 passengers kidnapped along the Ngodo- Isuochi road in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, July 24, 2023, said the kidnappers took the passengers hostage and escaped into surrounding bushes.
"The troops, who arrived at the scene of the incident while responding to a distress call on Saturday 22 July 2023, found that a Sienna SUV and an L300 Mitsubishi bus with Registration Number UWN 190 AL Enugu had been attacked by kidnappers, who took the passengers hostage and escaped into surrounding bushes,” the statement read.
"The troops on getting additional information from witnesses at the scene, went in pursuit of the kidnappers, trailing them into the bushes. During the search and rescue operation, troops initially 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, totaling 13 rescued persons. The rescued victims have been handed over to the Nigerian Police in Umunne Ochi.
“The Nigerian Army 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.”