THE 15 kidnapped children of Abayi International School, in Aba, Abia State, were rescued early yesterday morning by a combined Joint Military and Police squad which stormed the camps of the kidnappers in Ukwa area of the state.

The military squad led by Brigadier-General Johnson Ochoga of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), brought the 15 school children to the Government House, Umuahia, in an Army painted JTF ambulance marked NA403E, with the inscription, Operation Restore Hope, at about 10.55 am. They were led by a number of truck loads of soldiers and battle-ready mobile policemen.

According to the military leaders, the children were safely rescued without any ransom paid.
Looking very tired after five traumatized days in the bush, the kids’ whose parents rushed to Umuahia with the owner of their school, were immediately taken for medical check-up on the directive of the governor, after officially receiving them.

Sources close to the Task Force disclosed that many of the kidnappers have been arrested while search for others is in progress. Also, unconfirmed report said that no less than 15 kidnappers were killed when the task squad raided and over ran two camps in Obokwe in Ukwa West, one of which was believed to the strongest camp of the hoodlums.

The various communities in Ukwa and Ngwa areas where these hoodlums operate from were said to have been abandoned by the inhabitants who put their homes under lock and key and fled. The kidnappers were said to be breaking into some of these abandoned homes and using them to camp their kidnapped victims.

A cross-section of the children inside the Executive Council Chambers, Government House Umuahia.

Before presenting the rescued children to Governor Orji, the commander of the squad, Brigadier General Ochoga, described the kidnapping of the kids as “ a sore point and worrisome event”, which was carried out by “heartless persons who subjected them to terrified ordeal.”

Ochogo said that though the children were in good condition, they needed “immediate attention”, which the governor ordered be given to them accordingly.

Orji, in further appreciation of the operation of the military, announced with joy that the Ohafia Army Barracks abandoned years back has been reopened and donated the rehabilitated Asa High School which was readied to served as rehabilitation camp for the repentant kidnappers.

“All along, I contemplated how to celebrate 50th anniversary of my country when 15 of my children were held in captivity. My wife had already cancelled the children’s party planned today (yesterday), though the soldiers promised that they would release these children and here they are. So my day is made.

“Those people doing these things are not human beings. They are hooligans who are in the bush traumatizing the children who did nothing. I am sure that they don’t have wives and they have children. But they will marry and have children and what they did to these children will happen to them, they will expect nothing less”, Orji said.

He assured that with the operation of the task force, which continues, Aba residents who fled would soon return and that no right thinking person will ever engage in kidnapping and other crimes in the state.

Orji wondered how the areas where the hoodlums operate could be developed when they chase and kidnap contractors working in projects in their area. He maintained that these kidnappers were being sponsored by people and warned them to desist from such acts.

“We are sounding a note of warning to them to leave here. We are talking with them; we know that they are being sponsored. We are building our evidence and we will get them at the appropriate time”, Orji said even as he charged the little kids to take the ugly experience as a lesson which will make them to grow and fight criminal elements in the society.

The parents of the children and the owner of the school Mrs. Uche Ikonne, were at hand also to receive the kids.