The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the successful rescue of Daniel Onyishi, a commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), who was abducted in Anambra State on June 12, 2025.
Onyishi was freed during a joint operation by troops of Operation Udoka and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), who raided a criminal hideout in Idemili North Local Government Area on July 2.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, who briefed the press on Thursday, said three suspects—Emeka Ede, Okwudili Aja, and Onyebuchi Aja—were arrested in connection with the abduction.
“Intelligence confirmed that the suspects orchestrated the kidnapping of the NDLEA commander,” Kangye stated.
He added that troops recovered a cache of weapons, ammunition, and illicit drugs, all of which are now in military custody. The arrested suspects are currently being interrogated.
The rescue followed orders from the Commander of Operation Udoka and the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Enugu, to launch a full-scale operation to secure Onyishi’s release.
In a related development, the DHQ addressed the ongoing detention of leaders from Okuama community in Delta State.
It stated that no court order for their release has been received, despite a Federal High Court ruling in Warri mandating that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, produce one of the detainees at a hearing scheduled for September 30, 2025.
Among those still in custody is Professor Arthur Ekpekpo, President General of the Ewu Kingdom, who, along with several other community leaders, was arrested in connection with the 2024 killing of 17 soldiers on a peacekeeping mission in Okuama. Tragically, one of the detained leaders, Pa James Oghoroko, died in military custody on December 4, 2024, while another, Pa Dennis Okugbaye, reportedly collapsed while in detention and was hospitalized.
“The military has not received any court order for the release of the Okuama leaders,” Kangye stated. “Our legal departments are on standby to advise appropriately if such an order is issued.
The military remains committed to upholding the rule of law.”
Meanwhile, the DHQ provided an overview of nationwide military operations for the second quarter of 2025, highlighting major successes under Operations Hadin Kai, Fasin Yamma, Safe Haven, Udoka, and Delta Safe.
According to Kangye, troops arrested 1,191 terrorists, rescued 543 kidnapped victims, and accepted the surrender of 682 terrorists and their family members during the period.
Several high-profile terrorist commanders, including Amir Abu Fatimah, Auta Abdul Jamilu, Salisu Mallam Jidda, Maiwada, Mai Dada, and Nwachi Eze (also known as Onowu), were neutralized.