13 Abducted victims rescued in Ondo State

Joint security operatives have rescued 13 Abuja-bound passengers abducted by gunmen on transit through Isua, the headquarters of Akoko South-East Local Council of Ondo State.

The victims were in an 18-seater bus en route Abuja from Lagos when the criminals intercepted the vehicle and forcibly took them into the bush on Tuesday evening.

It was gathered that the security agencies, which included the men from Amotekun Corps, police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as soldiers, on getting the information immediately swung into action and combed the forest where the victims were rescued.

The source said the victims were rescued at Ikakumo area in Akoko North-East Local Council, a distance of almost 20 kilometres from Isua, where they were picked up.

The rescued victims were said to have been taken to the Isua Police Station.

Spokesperson for Ondo State Police Command, Funmilayo Odunlami, who confirmed the development, yesterday, said one of the kidnappers was shot dead when the security men engaged the kidnappers in gun battle.

She said: “The victims were rescued by the joint security operation. One of them was killed during a gun duel. We are on top of the situation.”

According to sources, only three of the passengers were left behind after the gunmen waylaid the victims.

One of the sources said: “It was like a movie when an Abuja-bound bus was waylaid on Tuesday by some unknown gunmen at Isua, the headquarters of Akoko South East Local Council, and marched them to the forest, leaving only three of the passengers.”