No fewer than 13 persons have been reportedly kidnapped along Abuja Road in Isua, the headquarters of Akoko South-East Local Government Area of Ondo State by some unknown gunmen.
According to a source in the town, the victims were in an 18-passenger bus travelling to Abuja from Lagos when the hoodlums waylaid their bus and dragged them out of the bus and thereafter marched into the bush on Tuesday evening.
The source said, “It was like a movie when an 13 passengers, Abuja bound bus was waylaid on Tuesday by some unknown gunmen at Isua the headquarters of Akoko South East Local Government and marched them to the forest leaving only three of the passengers.”
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It was gathered the security agencies, which included the men from Amotekun corps, the state commands of the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps as well as the 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 Government Area a distance of almost 20 kilometers from Isua where they were picked
“The joint security agents immediately embarked on combing of the forest and their efforts yielded fruitful result when some of the abducted travelers were rescued during the joint operation,” the source said.
The rescued victims were said to have taken to the Isua Police Station.
Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the Ondo Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), who confirmed the incident on Thursday said one of the kidnappers was shot dead when the security men engaged the kidnappers in gun.
“The victims were rescued by the joint security operation. One of them was killed during gun duel. We are on top of the situation,” Odunlami-Omisanya said.
