Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta, code-named Operation Delta Safe,
say they have rescued two abducted soldiers and four civilians from a
kidnappers’ den.
The OPDS, with headquarters in Igbogene, Yenagoa,
Bayelsa State, also said the troops discovered human skulls and bones during the
raid of the kidnappers’ camp in Rivers State.
The
Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre, OPDS, Major Ibrahim Abdullahi, said in
a statement on Thursday that their operation followed a report of kidnap of two
soldiers while on transit for banking services in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local
Government Area of Rivers.
He said after the report, the OPDS swung into
action by mobilising troops for the rescue operation.
The outfit’s
spokesman said when the suspected militants/cultists sighted troops approaching
their den, they engaged the troops in a gun battle.
He, however, said
during the gun duel, the troops engaged the kidnappers with superior firepower,
leading to casualties on the side of the suspected kidnappers, while others
escaped into the forest with gunshot wounds.
Abdullahi said, ”On
September 18, 2017, about 7:30 am, OPDS headquarters received a report of kidnap
of two soldiers while on transit for banking services in One LGA, Rivers
State.
”Troops were immediately mobilised, swung into action and
discovered a militant camp with several shrines in a forest at Obiozimini
community in Rivers State.
”On approaching there, the suspected
kidnappers opened fire on the troops who subsequently engaged them with superior
fire power, leading to casualties on the side of suspected kidnappers while
others escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds into an adjoining
forest.
”The operation successfully rescued the two abducted personnel.
Further search of the camp site led to the rescue of four more civilians that
were earlier kidnapped, including a lady.”
Abdullahi said the camp and
shrines were subsequently destroyed, rescued victims were evacuated to one of
their medical facilities in the area.
He urged members of the public to
provide any useful information about the suspects.
