Troops of the 82 Division Nigerian Army under the Joint Task Force South East, Operation Udo Ka, have successfully rescued a kidnapped clergyman, Reverend Johnson Anayo Onugwu, during a swift and intelligence-driven operation in Enugu State.
This was contained in a statement shared by the Nigerian Army on its Facebook page on Friday.
According to the statement, reverend Onugwu was abducted from his residence in Ezimo community, Udenu Local Government Area, at about 1:00 a.m. on January 29, 2026, by armed gunmen.
Following the incident, troops of 82 Division Garrison deployed at Udenu, in collaboration with other security agencies, acted on actionable intelligence to track the abductors.
The operation led security forces to the Itabolo General Area, where the kidnappers were subsequently engaged at the Okpakeke community.
A fierce gun battle ensued, during which one of the criminals was neutralised on the spot, resulting in the successful rescue of the clergyman without further harm.
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Items recovered during the operation include one AK-47 rifle, two magazines, and 20 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, noting that it will continue to work closely with sister security agencies to deny criminal elements freedom of action within the Joint Task Force Area of Responsibility.
Residents of the area have commended the prompt response of the security forces, describing the operation as a reassuring demonstration of the military’s resolve to tackle criminal activities in the South East.
