The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of 12 individuals who were abducted by armed kidnappers in Isua Akoko, the headquarters of Akoko South-East Local Government Area in the state.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, made the disclosure in a statement issued on Saturday.According to Jimoh, the victims were seized in the early hours of Saturday after two commercial buses coming from Benue State and heading to Ibadan were ambushed by gunmen.
He stated: “The command received a distress report at about 01:30hrs that two commercial Hummer buses transporting passengers from Benue State on their way to Ibadan had been violently intercepted by suspected armed kidnappers. The attackers allegedly forced several passengers out of the vehicles and moved them into an adjacent forest.”
Following the report, the police immediately set in motion a coordinated rescue effort. Operatives of the command, together with local hunters and other security partners, were promptly deployed to the location with the main goal of freeing the captives and apprehending the offenders.
“Upon getting to the area, the joint rescue team started an intensive bush-combing exercise across the nearby forests and challenging terrains where the victims were suspected to have been taken,” Jimoh said. “At the same time, intelligence-driven surveillance and strategic tracking were intensified to follow the fleeing suspects and aid the safe recovery of the remaining victims.”
He added that the continued pressure from the combined security team produced major results as 12 of the abducted persons, including the drivers of the affected buses, were successfully rescued unharmed.
The police spokesperson further noted that the rescued victims have been taken to a hospital to receive medical care and support.Jimoh said that operations are still ongoing to secure the release of the remaining victims and to arrest those behind the attack.
He also disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, visited the scene and held meetings with community leaders, vigilante groups, and other stakeholders.
In addition, Jimoh said extra tactical and intelligence personnel have been deployed to the area to reinforce the ongoing rescue and manhunt operations.
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