Conflicting Accounts Trail Rescue of Kidnapped Army Major in Delta

The Nigerian Army has announced the rescue of Major M. Josiah, who was abducted in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, though community members are offering conflicting accounts of how he regained freedom.

According to the Army, the officer’s release was the result of “meticulous planning, intelligence gathering, and collaboration with community leaders and members of Bomadi.” A statement issued yesterday read:

“This synergy enabled the troops to track down the abductors and rescue the senior officer at Tuomor Waterside in Bomadi on September 9, 2025. Although Major Josiah sustained gunshot wounds during the rescue operation, he has been evacuated to a medical facility for treatment and is receiving adequate care.”

The statement also quoted the Commander, 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army/Sector 1, Joint Task Force, South South, Operation DELTA SAFE, Brigadier General M. Shonibare, who commended troops for their “bravery and tactical prowess.”

However, community sources disputed the Army’s account, insisting that Major Josiah was actually freed by local palm-wine tappers and lumberers who found him in the deep forest of Tuomo community, tied to a canoe.

One source explained:

“A young girl left her father’s palm-wine camp in a canoe early in the morning to check her fishing net, and in the process saw the army officer sitting inside a canoe in the distance. She rushed back home to tell her dad what she had seen. Her father went with her and found Major Josiah tied to a canoe seat, with gunshot wounds on his leg and hand. The palm-wine tapper untied him and later informed some lumberers. They eventually brought him back to the community by canoe.”

Another source offered a slightly different version:

“The army officer was heard shouting and wailing in the deep forest of Tuomo community. Some lumberers traced his cry, found him injured, and took him to a palm-wine tapper’s camp. From there, they decided to bring him into the community by canoe. The community later alerted the Bomadi Division of the Joint Task Force, who came and took him away.”

Efforts to reach the military command in Bomadi for clarification were unsuccessful, as calls to the commander’s phone went unanswered. However, a local source confirmed that Major Josiah had been taken to an undisclosed hospital for medical treatment.