Less than two hours after four people were kidnapped on the way to a quarry site on Ibadan-Ijebu Ode Road on Tuesday, police operatives from Oyo State Command, in collaboration with local hunters, have rescued the victims.
It was learnt that the gunmen, numbering about 10 and wielding guns, blocked the victims, a male and three females, while they were in a Toyota Sienna van on a rough path, going towards Kulum Quarry site at Onigambari Community, at about 11 am.
It was learnt that the gunmen decided to go off the major road to carry out kidnap because of police presence there.
The victims were said to be members of the transport union who load granites usually bought from the quarry site.
They were immediately taken into the bush after the kidnap, but the prompt information given to the police reportedly helped in the rescue move.
It was learnt that police tactical teams and local hunters stormed the bush and went after the kidnappers immediately.
Noticing that the police were closing in on them, they were said to have abandoned the victim to escape arrest.
The victims were rescued by the police at about 12:30 pm, it was gathered.
When initially forced into the bush, it was learnt that the victims’ clothes got torn through walk on a rough ground.
The police and local hunters also went back into the after taking the victims into safety and were able to recover the victims’ belongings, including their phones, identity and ATM cards.
It was further learnt that about two hours after the police left the bush, the kidnappers again attempted to come out for another operation beside Mamu Community, not too far from the previous scene, but were repelled and chased by the police.
Confirming the rescue carried out by the police, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Adewale Osifeso, said that the gunmen abducted the victims after blocking them while they were in a Toyota Sienna vehicle with registration number LUY 835 KV.
“The process was however thwarted by the swift intervention of police operatives from the Command, in concerted efforts with vigilantes and local hunters, who engaged the abductors and were able to rescue all the victims unhurt.
“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the abductors,” the PPRO stated
