The Police Command in Ondo State says it has rescued two kidnapped victims and arrested three suspects at Isua-Akoko in Akoko South-East Local Government Area of the state.
DSP Abayomi Jimoh, command’s Spokesperson, who made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Akure, said the command also recovered N1.5 million, which was suspected to be payment of ransom.
According to Jimoh, the breakthrough was recorded on Sept. 11 following credible intelligence that a group of suspected kidnappers are hiding in the thick forest along the Ifira–Idoani axis to collect ransom.
“Acting on the intelligence, operatives of Isua division, in collaboration with personnel of the Ondo State Security Network (Amotekun) and Agbe-Koya, embarked on a coordinated rescue and ambush operation deep inside the forest.
“The security operatives strategically positioned themselves along the suspected route and maintained surveillance for several hours.
“At about 2330 hours, the suspected kidnappers, numbering about four and armed with firearms, emerged from the forest.
“On sighting the security operatives, they opened fire, prompting the security team to tactically repel the attack and rescue the two victims, Mr Owolabi Patrick and Asoto Dada, unhurt.
“During the encounter, the security operatives recovered the sum of N1.5 million suspected to have been brought for ransom payment,” he said.
The command’s spokesperson, however, said the suspected kidnappers sustained gunshot injuries and escaped into the thick forest.
He also said police personnel sustained follow-up operations and credible intelligence, which led to sighting the kidnappers on Sept. 13 at about 2030 hours along Idoani Road.
“Operatives immediately mobilised to the area, resulting in the arrest of three suspects, while two of them sustained gunshot injuries to their legs.
“The arrested suspects are: Abdullahi Abubakar, male, Ibrahim Abubakar, male, and Oseni Abubakar, male, all resident of Akunnu area.
“The two rescued victims, subsequently came to the police station and positively identified the arrested suspects as their abductors,” he said.
Jimoh, therefore, said the Bajaj motorcycle earlier recovered by the police had also been identified by the victims as being connected to the criminal operation.
The spokesperson said the command would continue to deny criminal elements access to forests and other hideouts within the state, and sustain intelligence-led operations against kidnappers and other criminal elements.
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