Odita Sunday 
Enugu Forest Guard Boss, Olasoji Leads Raid of Bushes, Rescue 12 Kidnap Victims
By Odita Sunday
A joint security operation in Enugu State has led to the rescue of 12 kidnapped victims and the recovery of two AK-47 rifles following a raid on a suspected kidnappers’ hideout in the Ette forest axis of Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area.
The operation was carried out by the Enugu State Forest Guard in collaboration with the Inspector-General of Police Special Intervention Squad and other security agencies during a coordinated bush-combing exercise targeting criminal hideouts within forest corridors in the state.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Commander of the Forest Guard, Akinbayo O. Olasoji, the raid followed credible intelligence on the activities of a kidnapping gang operating within the Effeche Eja/Ojugo forest corridor around the Ette and Aguibeje communities.
Olasoji said the security team encountered the suspected kidnappers during the operation, leading to an exchange of gunfire after the criminals reportedly opened fire on the approaching operatives.
He disclosed that at the end of the engagement, the joint team successfully rescued twelve abducted victims from the kidnappers’ camp while two AK-47 rifles were recovered from the suspects.
The commander added that the raid also disrupted a major kidnapping camp located within the Effeche forest corridor.
He further revealed that follow-up operations conducted by a combined team of the Police, Army, Forest Guard and Neighbourhood Watch led to the interception and arrest of three suspected kidnappers within the operational area.
“The suspects are currently in police custody and are assisting ongoing investigations,” he said.
Olasoji noted that the success of the operation highlights the effectiveness of the ongoing forest security operations and the growing inter-agency collaboration aimed at tackling kidnapping and other criminal activities across the state.
He assured residents that security operations across forest corridors and rural communities in Enugu State remain active and sustained.
The Forest Guard commander also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing credible information to security agencies to help identify and flush out criminal elements from any part of the state.
He added that further updates would be provided as investigations and security operations continue.
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