Troops of Operation Udo Ka on Friday 17 May, 2024 foiled an attempted kidnap of another law-abiding South Easterner (names withheld) at Umuaka in Njaba LGA of Imo State.
In a statement issued Saturday by Lt-Col, Jonah Unuakhalu, said the troops while on routine patrol at Umuaka, along Road Orlu-Owerri, were alerted of the kidnap incident and the escape route of the kidnappers.
He added that the troops swiftly pursued the kidnappers and made contact with them.
Unuakhalu noted: “In the fire fight that ensued, the troops professionally neutralised one of the kidnappers and injured two others despite their attempts to use passer-by as human shield.
“The troops recovered one AK 47 rifle with two loaded magazines and a motorcycle.”
Similarly, he stressed that the troops in conjunction with personnel of Naval Base, Oguta neutralised a member of IPOB/ESN terrorist group at Amagberedere village in Oguta LGA of Imo State.
He said during the raid operation conducted on the suspected hideout of the dissidents, the irredentists opened fire on sighting the troops but the soldiers responded appropriately and in the process neutralised one of the terrorists and recovered one pump action shotgun and two cartridges.
While commending the good people of Umuaka and Oguta for providing timely intelligence, the army encouraged the general public to provide timely information that would lead to the arrest of these criminal elements terrorising the law-abiding and peace loving Ndigbos.