Anambra hunters successfully rescued kidnapped siblings, thwarting the kidnappers’ plans. Discover how these brave hunters made the rescue possible.
Two siblings who were abducted by armed men in Anambra State have been successfully rescued by the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS).
During a briefing in Abuja, John Metchie – the Deputy Commander-General (Technical Operations) of NHFSS announced this.
As stated by Mr. Metchie, Chijioke Igwe and Uchenna Igwe were taken captive on August 16th as they made their way home from celebrating a wedding occasion. The occurrence happened in Nkwelle-Ezunaka situated within the Oyi Local Government Area, where armed individuals attacked their car by discharging rounds into the atmosphere before abducting them against their will to a close-by woodland.
Upon receiving a distress call from an alarmed citizen, the Umueri unit of NHFSS was promptly activated in the Anambra-East council area. The decisive action taken by the hunters played a vital role in rescuing the kidnapped siblings and ensuring their safety.
Further information on the rescue mission was provided by Joseph Obaelue, a member of NHFSS and Chief Security Officer for Umueri community. According to him, upon receiving a distress call at 9 p.m., the team immediately pursued kidnappers into the forest.
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Tension ran high during an encounter with abductors along Onitsha-Adani area before eventually rescuing victims in Umueri.
As the rescue team made an attempt to escape into the dense forest, they were met with gunshots from the kidnappers as recounted by Mr. Obaelue. Part of their scheme included coercing one of their victims to transfer a sum totaling N1.3 million to their account before taking off in panic. Nonetheless, thanks to the prompt reaction of NHFSS operatives, these criminals had no option but leave behind both hostages along with two vehicles – namely a Lexus Jeep 330 and Toyota Highlander SUV- which were later retrieved during operations conducted on site.”
During the day, two members of a criminal syndicate engaged in extortion were located and captured by the NHFSS. These individuals were notorious for employing various SIM cards to reach out to people and coerce them into paying a certain amount through threats of violence.
During the rescue operation, Mr. Obaelue praised his team for their courage and recognized the valuable assistance provided by various groups including the Nigerian military, police force, Civil Defence unit, State Security Service (SSS), as well as local vigilante organizations in ongoing efforts to combat criminal activities ranging from kidnapping to banditry taking place within forests.
Mr. Obaelue conveyed his appreciation to Mr. Metchie, the Deputy Commander-General of NHFSS, for furnishing vital technical and logistical assistance in facilitating their operations. Furthermore, he extended his gratitude towards Joshua Osatimehin – the Commander-General of NHFSS- for fostering coherence and regimentation within the service.
The NHFSS’s ability to collaborate with other security agencies has been demonstrated through the successful rescue of the Igwe siblings, proving their effectiveness in combating kidnapping in Nigeria’s forests.
