Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have rescued 12 kidnapped victims who were abducted in the early hours of Saturday in Ondo State by suspected kidnappers. The victims were passengers of an 18-passenger Ibadan-bound bus that was intercepted at Isua, Akoko South East Local Council Area of the state.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed that the passengers were traveling from Benue State when the bus was attacked. According to Jimoh, the command swiftly deployed operatives and local hunters who rescued the 12 victims.
The police spokesperson maintained that the team will rescue the remaining victims, assuring that the suspects will be apprehended. He said, “The Command received a distress report at about 0130 hrs that two commercial Hummer buses conveying passengers from Benue State en route to Ibadan had been violently intercepted by suspected armed kidnappers.”
“The attackers reportedly forced several passengers out of the vehicles and marched them into a nearby forest. Following the report, the police immediately activated a coordinated rescue operation, as operatives of the command, alongside local hunters and other security stakeholders, were swiftly mobilised to the scene with the primary objective of rescuing the victims and apprehending the perpetrators.”
“Upon arrival, the combined rescue team commenced an intensive bush-combing operation across the surrounding forests and difficult terrains where the victims were believed to have been taken, while intelligence-led surveillance and strategic tracking efforts were simultaneously intensified to trail the fleeing suspects and facilitate the safe rescue of the remaining victims.”
“The sustained pressure mounted by the combined security team yielded significant success as 12 kidnapped victims, including the drivers of the affected buses, were successfully rescued alive. The rescued victims are currently receiving necessary medical attention and support while arrangements are being made to reunite them with their families.”
“In furtherance of the operation, the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, personally visited the scene of the incident, where he held strategic engagements with community heads, local vigilante groups and other relevant stakeholders within the axis.”
