The Kwara State Police Command recently shared details about the rescue of 13 kidnapping victims during a joint operation with the Oke-Ero local government security personnel. In a statement released on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, it was revealed that the suspects engaged the security forces in a fierce gun battle at their hideout in the Idofin-Igbana area.
According to the statement, the six kidnappers had resorted to disguising themselves in military uniforms. “When they spotted the security team, the suspects opened fire but were quickly overpowered by the superior firepower of the rescue team,” the PPRO noted. The kidnappers fled the scene, wounded, abandoning their hostages in the process.
The rescued individuals comprised three women and ten men, hailing from different locations including Odo-Owa in Oke-Ero, as well as Ilorin and Ogbomoso. Notably, there was also a group of trailer drivers who were on their way to Kogi State. While two of the victims incurred minor gunshot injuries, they received immediate medical attention at a nearby hospital, were stabilized, and then reunited with their families.
Kwara State Police Commissioner, Victor Olaiya, praised the quick response and determination of the operatives and expressed gratitude to local communities for their timely provision of credible information. He assured the public of the command’s unwavering commitment to combating criminal activities. “Together, we can ensure the safety of our communities,” the statement emphasized.
The report also recalled a prior incident where five wedding guests were kidnapped in the Obbo-Ayegunle area of Ekiti local government while returning from a wedding in Kogi State. Among those taken were Oloye Oyewole Abolarin, the head of hunters in Odo-Owa, his wife Funmilayo, Tunde Oladipo and his wife, as well as a woman named Bose, all from Agbele Igbede compound in Odo-Owa. The kidnappers had reportedly contacted the victims’ families, demanding ₦100 million in ransom, leading relatives and community members to gather funds while appealing for intervention from Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and security agencies.
The police statement confirmed that the Kwara State Police Command marked another significant success in its fight against crime by rescuing 13 individuals following a distress call on December 21, 2024. The victims had been forcefully abducted while heading to a wedding event in Kogi State. After acting on credible intelligence and receiving support from local informants, the police swiftly moved to the suspects’ hideout in Idofin-Igbana. Upon their arrival, the kidnappers, six in total and some in military disguise began shooting but were quickly subdued by the superior firepower of the rescue team. Ultimately, the suspects fled with injuries, leaving their captives behind. All rescued individuals received medical attention before being reunited with their families.