The Nigerian Army has intensified its offensive against terrorists and kidnappers in the South-East, destroying a suspected terrorist camp in Anambra State, rescuing three kidnapped victims and recovering a large cache of arms and ammunition.
The Army announced the development on Friday in a statement posted on its official X account, saying the operation was carried out by troops of the Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA, in collaboration with the Anambra Vigilante Group.
According to the statement, troops first rescued three persons who had been abducted around the Osakwa area of Ihiala Local Government Area. A follow-up operation on October 1 led to the arrest of a suspected kidnapper, Sunday Obi, whose confession helped security forces locate the gang’s hideout at Abator in Ogbaru Local Government Area.
Troops crossed the Isieke waterside in canoes to reach the camp and engaged the fleeing terrorists in a gun battle before overrunning the hideout.
Weapons recovered during the operation included two AK-47 rifles, three pump-action guns, three locally made Dane guns, 62 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 149 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, two cartridges and suspected materials for manufacturing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
The troops also recovered a solar generator, solar panels, batteries, power bank and mobile phones believed to have been used to support the group’s activities.
The Army said “the Nigerian Army, through Operation UDO KA, will sustain coordinated kinetic and intelligence-driven operations to dismantle terrorist enclaves, disrupt their logistics and supply chains and deny criminal elements safe havens across the South East.”
It added that troops are continuing follow-up operations to arrest fleeing terrorists, their collaborators and logistics suppliers.