Tension gripped residents of Isua Akoko in Akoko South-East Local Government Area of Ondo State after suspected bandits abducted 12 passengers travelling in two commercial buses along the route on Friday.
The victims were reportedly travelling from Benue State to Ibadan, Oyo State, when armed men intercepted the vehicles and forcefully whisked the passengers away into a nearby forest.
According to sources, the attackers stopped the two Toyota Hummer buses along the highway before carrying out the abduction operation, causing panic among commuters and residents in the area.
Confirming the incident, the Ondo State Police Command said security operatives were immediately deployed to the scene after receiving a distress call. The command disclosed that a joint rescue operation involving the police, local hunters, vigilante groups, and other security agencies was launched to track down the kidnappers and rescue the victims.
Police spokesperson, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, stated that operatives combed nearby forests and carried out intelligence-led operations in search of the abducted passengers.
Security sources later confirmed that all 12 victims were successfully rescued during the operation. The rescued persons reportedly included the drivers of the commercial buses.
The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Felix Ohagwu, assured residents that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and strengthen security patrols across major highways in the state.
