Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 82 Division, operating under the Joint Task Force South East and as part of Operation UDO KA, have successfully rescued a kidnapped clergyman, Reverend Johnson Anayo Onugwu, in Enugu State. Onugwu was abducted from his residence in the Ezimo community of Udenu Local Government Area in the early hours of Thursday, January 29, 2026. Acting on credible, intelligence-led information, the military moved swiftly to locate and pursue the kidnappers within hours of his abduction.

The troops tracked the abductors to the Itabolo general area and later engaged them in a gun battle at Okpakeke community. During the confrontation, one of the suspected kidnappers was neutralised while the others fled, leaving the clergyman unharmed and eventually freed. Security forces also recovered an AK-47 rifle, two magazines and ammunition at the scene, underscoring the armed nature of the assailants.

The rescued Reverend Onugwu has since been reunited with his family, bringing relief to residents and church members who had been deeply concerned about his safety. The Nigerian Army reiterated its determination to sustain offensive operations against criminal elements across the South East, working with sister security agencies to ensure the protection of lives and property in the region.