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From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
No fewer than 13 people were reportedly kidnapped by gunmen in Isua-Akoko, headquarters of Akoko South-East Local Government Area of Ondo State.
A source in the town said 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. The source hinted that the passengers were, thereafter, marched into the bush.
The source said: “It was like a movie when 13 passengers were abducted from an Abuja bound bus after they were waylaid by some unknown gunmen at Isua Akoko and marched into the forest, leaving only three of the passengers.”
It was gathered that the security agents, including men of the Amotekun Corps, soldiers and police officers, on getting the information, immediately swung into action and combed the forest. The source said the victims were rescued at Ikakumo area in Akoko North-East Local Government Area, a distance of almost 20 kilometres from Isua, where they were picked.
“The joint security agents immediately embarked on combing the forest, and their efforts yielded fruitful results when some of the abducted travellers were rescued during the joint operation,” the source stated.
The rescued victims were said to have been taken to Isua police station.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident and said one of the kidnappers was shot dead when the security men engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel.
She said: “The victims were rescued by the joint security operation. One of the abductors was killed during a gun duel. We are on top of the situation.”
