By Sadiq Umar – The Nigerian military said it has rescued two soldiers and four civilians abducted by a criminal gang in a forest at Obiozimini, Rivers State.
The rescue operation also led to the discovery of several shrines used by suspected militants.
A statement by the Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre for the military Operation in Niger Delta, Ibrahim Abdullahi, a Major, said Thursday the operation successfully rescued the 2 abducted personnel.
According to the statement, “on 18th September 2017, at about 7:30 am, Headquarters OPERATION DELTA SAFE received a report of kidnap of two Soldiers’ while on transit for banking services in ONELGA, Rivers State.
“Troops were immediately mobilized, swung into action and discovered a militant camp with several shrines in a forest at Obiozimini Community in Rivers State,” it said.
Adding: On approach, the suspected militants\cultists opened fire on the troops who subsequently engaged them with superior firepower leading to casualties on the side of suspected kidnappers while others escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds into an adjoining forest.
“Further search of the campsite led to the rescue of 4 more civilians that were earlier kidnapped including a lady.
Troops also discovered three pump action guns, eight cartridges and a human skull and some bones in the camp and shrines.
“The camp and shrines were subsequently destroyed while the rescued victims were evacuated to one of our medical facilities in the area.
In order to arrest the perpetrators of this heinous crime troops are trailing the criminals who fled into the forest.
The military urged members of the public to provide any useful information to identify these criminals and their whereabouts in order to face justice.
