The Ondo State Police Command, in collaboration with local hunters and other security operatives, has rescued 12 passengers abducted by suspected kidnappers in Isua Akoko, the headquarters of Akoko South-East Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to Jimoh, the victims were abducted in the early hours of Saturday while travelling in two commercial Hummer buses from Benue State to Ibadan.
He explained that the command received a distress call around 1:30 a.m. indicating that the vehicles had been intercepted by armed men who forcefully removed some passengers and led them into a nearby forest.
Following the report, the police immediately launched a coordinated rescue operation involving security operatives, local hunters and other stakeholders.
Jimoh stated that the rescue team carried out extensive bush-combing operations across forests and difficult terrains where the victims were suspected to have been taken, while intelligence gathering and tracking efforts were intensified to locate the abductors.
He said the operation recorded success as 12 victims, including the drivers of the affected buses, were rescued alive.
The rescued victims have reportedly been taken to a hospital for medical attention and support, while arrangements are being made to reunite them with their families.
The police spokesman added that efforts were still ongoing to rescue other victims and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
He also disclosed that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Felix Ohagwu, visited the scene and held meetings with community leaders, vigilante groups and other stakeholders as part of efforts to strengthen ongoing rescue operations and security measures.
