Five foreigners abducted earlier by unidentified gunmen have been rescued by Nigerian troops in the country’s oil-rich Niger Delta region, the military announced in a statement reaching Xinhua on Wednesday.
The victims, comprising three Russians, one Ukrainian and one Equatorial Guinean, were freed after troops raided the hideouts of armed groups in the region, said John Enenche, Nigeria’s defense spokesperson in the statement.
Enenche said the expatriates were kidnapped by unknown militants group on May 9, 2020. And upon receipt of credible intelligence on the abduction, a joint team of naval operatives and troops of 146 Battalion combed the creeks in the region in search of the kidnapped victims.
After a thorough search and rescue operation, the troops raided and destroyed four identified “sea pirates/militants hideout”, denying them freedom of action, said Enenche.
He said the gunmen were compelled to surrender to the troops and handed over the 5 kidnapped foreign expatriates on the early hours of Tuesday.
The rescued foreigners are receiving medical attention at a military facility, said Enenche.
