Army foils kidnap attempt, rescues five travellers in Enugu

Troops of the Joint Task Force South-East have rescued five travellers following a rapid response to a distress call about a kidnapping along the 9th Mile axis in the 82 Division Area of Responsibility, in Enugu.

In a statement on Saturday, the military said the distress call, received around 6:55 pm on Friday, reported a suspected IPOB/ESN attack on commuters travelling towards Anambra State.

“The troops immediately mobilised to the scene and decisively engaged the armed elements with superior firepower and tactical manoeuvre,” the statement said.

The swift operation forced the attackers to abandon their captives, allowing troops to rescue five victims unharmed and recover their vehicle intact.

According to the statement, troops subsequently intensified patrols to track fleeing suspects and deny criminal elements freedom of action.

The military added that the proactive posture has “reinforced public confidence, reassured commuters, and further degraded the operational capabilities of hostile actors across the region.”

The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to “safeguarding lives, securing critical lines of communication, and dismantling all terrorist and criminal networks in the Southeast.”

Members of the public were urged to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, the statement concluded, noting that “collective vigilance and cooperation remain vital to achieving enduring peace, stability and security across the region.”