Troops of Sector 1 of the Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA, a military onslaught against criminals elements in the Southeast have rescued 14 kidnap victims, following an ‘high impact” raid on the kidnappers’ den in Orokam Forest linking Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State and Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State.

A credible source at the Army Headquarters told The Nation on Saturday that the operation was triggered by “actionable intelligence” from vigilant community sources.

The source said the victims were abducted on Friday from Ezimo Agu community in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State and Orokam in Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State but were held by their abductors in dispersed clusters across the forest.

According to the source, upon receiving the relevant intelligence the troops, in collaboration with local vigilantes “swiftly” mounted a deliberate assault on a suspected kidnap hideout concealed deep into the forest.

“On contact, the criminals unleashed gunfire, prompting a fierce engagement,” the source said.

“The joint force’s superior firepower, tactical manoeuvre and relentless advance forced the kidnappers to break contact and flee, abandoning the abductees.”

The source said the troops have handed over the rescued victims to the Divisional Police Officer, Udenu Division, for proper profiling and to reunite them with their families.