By Afusat Agunbiade-Oladipo
The Kwara State Police Command has successfully rescued 13 kidnap victims in a swift and coordinated operation within the state.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Ilorin, describing the achievement as a testament to the command’s dedication to ensuring residents’ safety and security.
According to Ejire-Adeyemi, the operation involved collaboration between the Police and the Oke-Ero Local Government Security Initiative personnel. The victims, abducted while en route to a wedding in Kogi State, were rescued after an intense operation.
“The Kwara State Police Command has recorded another remarkable success in its fight against criminal activities by rescuing 13 kidnapped victims following a distress call on Dec. 21, 2024,” she said.
Acting on credible intelligence and with support from local informants, the security operatives traced the kidnappers to their hideout in the Idofin-Igbana area.
Upon sighting the security team, the kidnappers—six in number, with some dressed in military uniforms—engaged the operatives in a gun battle but were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the rescue team. The suspects fled the scene with various degrees of injuries, abandoning their captives,” Ejire-Adeyemi explained.
The rescued victims included three female and 10 male, drawn from various locations, including Odo-Owa in Oke-Ero Local Government Area, Ilorin, Ogbomoso, and a group of trailer drivers heading to Kogi.
“Two of the victims sustained minor gunshot injuries. They were immediately provided with medical attention at a nearby hospital, stabilised, and reunited with their families,” she added.
Ejire-Adeyemi further quoted the state Commissioner of Police, CP Victor Olaiya, who praised the swift and effective response of the operatives and expressed gratitude to the local communities for their timely provision of credible information.
The CP assured the public of the command’s unwavering commitment to combating criminal activities in all forms,” she noted.
Olaiya also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through the Command’s emergency hotlines: 07032069501 or 08125275046. (NAN)
Source: PM News
