Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force, in collaboration with local hunters, have rescued 12 passengers abducted during a midnight attack along the Isua Akoko axis of Ondo State, following a coordinated bush-combing operation that has now entered an intensified manhunt phase for the fleeing suspects.
The victims were among passengers travelling in two commercial Hummer buses from Benue State to Ibadan when armed kidnappers ambushed them around 1:30 a.m. on Friday, forcing several occupants into nearby forest after blocking the highway.
Confirming the incident on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ondo State, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the attackers struck in the early hours of the day, hijacking the vehicles before whisking victims into surrounding forested terrain.
According to him, a swift distress response prompted a joint tactical operation involving police operatives, local hunters and other security stakeholders, who immediately launched a search-and-rescue mission across difficult forest terrain.
“Upon arrival, the combined rescue team commenced an intensive bush-combing operation across the surrounding forests and difficult terrains where the victims were believed to have been taken, while intelligence-led surveillance and strategic tracking efforts were simultaneously intensified to trail the fleeing suspects and facilitate the safe rescue of the remaining victims,” Jimoh said.
The sustained operation, according to the Command, led to the rescue of 12 victims, including the drivers of the two buses. They have since been taken to medical facilities for treatment and stabilisation before reunification with their families.
Security sources confirmed that additional tactical units have been deployed to the area as efforts continue to locate other abducted passengers still believed to be in captivity and to apprehend members of the kidnapping gang.
The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Felix Ohagwu, who visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment, met with community leaders, vigilante groups and security operatives, directing enhanced collaboration and intelligence sharing.
He commended the swift response of the rescue teams, describing the operation as a demonstration of effective inter-agency synergy, while urging residents to support security agencies with timely and credible information.
“The Command remains resolute in its determination to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes and will continue to deploy all lawful means necessary to ensure the safety and security of residents across Ondo State,” Jimoh added.
Police authorities assured that the ongoing operation would be sustained until all victims are rescued and the perpetrators brought to justice.
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