The Nigerian Army successfully foiled a kidnap attempt in the Oviri-Ogor community of Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State.
The incident occurred during a surveillance patrol when gallant troops intervened to rescue victims from gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.
The troops also rescued passengers from a kidnapping attempt by Fulani herdsmen on the Ughelli axis of the East-West Road. Reports reveal that the suspected kidnappers trailed one of their victims to his newly completed building along HRM Igere III Road in Oviri-Ogor, only to find him absent.
Despite the sketchy nature of the initial report, a community source disclosed that around 8 PM, the kidnappers stormed the victim’s house, shooting sporadically.
“They did not see him and, in the process, abducted an unidentified person before the arrival of the Nigerian Army, who had mounted surveillance in the vicinity,” the source explained.
The Oviri-Ogor community has been plagued by frequent attacks, with residents living in constant fear. “This road from Oviri-Ogor community market to the East-West Road has been a disaster for years. People only sleep with one eye open because of possible attacks. The government must intervene, as gunshots are heard nightly, and no one dares to pass through the road after 6:30 PM,” the source added.
In a related incident, the Nigerian Army rescued passengers after a gunfight lasting nearly an hour between the troops and the suspected kidnappers along the Ughelli-Patani Road.
One of the rescued victims, Comrade Ekiyor Andrew, recounted the harrowing experience: “We were kidnapped along Ughelli Patani road. They butchered some of the passengers, and the driver is still missing. They took our phones and money, but thank God for the Nigerian soldiers who rescued us. Some people are still missing, but I believe they will be found.”
The Nigerian Army confirmed these incidents in a statement on their verified X handle, formerly Twitter. “In a remarkable display of bravery, troops of the Nigerian Army deployed for internal security duties successfully thwarted a kidnap attempt by a suspected terrorist group along the Ughelli-Patani Road in Delta State.
The troops’ swift response to a distress call resulted in the rescue of passengers kidnapped while traveling in a commercial bus,” the statement read.
The Army’s rapid mobilization and confrontation with the armed terrorists led to a fierce firefight, forcing the kidnappers to abandon their captives and flee. The rescued passengers are now in safe custody, receiving necessary care and support, while the troops pursue the fleeing terrorists.
