The Ondo State Police Command says it has rescued 12 passengers abducted by suspected kidnappers during an attack on two commercial buses in Isua Akoko area of Ondo State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday when armed men reportedly intercepted two commercial Hummer buses travelling from Benue State to Ibadan in the Akoko South-East Local Government Area.
Witnesses said the attackers stopped the vehicles and forcefully marched several passengers into a nearby forest.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, said the command launched a rescue operation after receiving a distress call around 1:30am.
“The Ondo State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police Felix Ohagwu, has successfully rescued 12 victims abducted during the kidnapping incident at Isua,” he said.
According to the police spokesman, operatives worked alongside local hunters and other security groups to comb nearby forests and difficult terrains where the victims were believed to have been taken.
“Intelligence-led surveillance and strategic tracking efforts were intensified to trail the fleeing suspects,” Jimoh stated.
Police said the operation led to the successful rescue of 12 victims, including the drivers of the two affected buses.
“The sustained pressure mounted by the combined security team yielded significant success as 12 kidnapped victims were rescued alive,” he added.
Authorities said the rescued passengers are currently receiving medical attention and support before being reunited with their families.
The police, however, noted that efforts were ongoing to rescue other victims believed to still be in captivity.
“The Ondo State Police Command wishes to reassure the public that operations are still ongoing to secure the release of the remaining victims and bring all those involved to justice,” the statement added.
Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, visited the area and met with community leaders, vigilante groups, and other stakeholders.
During the meeting, the police commissioner stressed the need for stronger cooperation between security agencies and local communities in tackling kidnapping and other crimes in the state.
