Thirteen wedding guests kidnapped on their way to a program in Kogi State have been rescued after six days in captivity.
The rescue operation, led by the Kwara State Police Command and local hunters, took place in the Idofin-Igbana area of Oke-Ero Local Government Area. The kidnappers, dressed in military uniforms, fled after a gun battle, abandoning their captives.
The victims, including three women and ten men, were rescued unharmed except for two individuals who sustained gunshot injuries during the ordeal. They received medical care at a nearby hospital and were later reunited with their families.
Ejire Adeyemi Adetoun, the spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command, confirmed the operation in a press release issued over the weekend.
“The Kwara State Police Command has achieved yet another remarkable success in its fight against criminal activities with the rescue of thirteen kidnapped victims following a distress call on December 21, 2024,” she said.
According to the statement, the victims were abducted by six armed men on their way to Kogi State. Acting on credible intelligence, the police, alongside local hunters, stormed the kidnappers’ hideout.
“Upon sighting the security team, the kidnappers engaged in a gun battle but were overpowered. They fled the scene with injuries, abandoning their captives,” the statement added.
The rescued individuals were from Odo-Owa in Oke-Ero, Ilorin, Ogbomoso, and included trailer drivers heading to Kogi State.
Kwara State Commissioner of Police, CP Victor Olaiya, commended the swift response of the police and local hunters. He also praised the community for providing timely information that aided the rescue operation.
“The Command remains committed to tackling criminality in all forms,” CP Olaiya said, urging residents to report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or call the emergency hotlines: 07032069501 or 08125275046.
The police assured the public that efforts to track down the fleeing kidnappers are ongoing, and those with gunshot wounds have been advised to report suspicious persons to the authorities.
