Police rescue 2 kidnap victims, arrest 3 suspects in Ondo

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The Police Command in Ondo State says it has rescued two kidnapped victims and arrested three suspects at Isua-Akoko in Akoko South-East Local Government Area of the state.

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DSP Abayomi Jimoh, command’s Spokesperson, who made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Akure, said the command also recovered N1.5 million, which was suspected to be payment of ransom.

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According to Jimoh, the breakthrough was recorded on Sept. 11 following credible intelligence that a group of suspected kidnappers are hiding in the thick forest along the Ifira–Idoani axis to collect ransom.

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“Acting on the intelligence, operatives of Isua division, in collaboration with personnel of the Ondo State Security Network (Amotekun) and Agbe-Koya, embarked on a coordinated rescue and ambush operation deep inside the forest.

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“The security operatives strategically positioned themselves along the suspected route and maintained surveillance for several hours.

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“At about 2330 hours, the suspected kidnappers, numbering about four and armed with firearms, emerged from the forest.

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“On sighting the security operatives, they opened fire, prompting the security team to tactically repel the attack and rescue the two victims, Mr Owolabi Patrick and Asoto Dada, unhurt.

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“During the encounter, the security operatives recovered the sum of N1.5 million suspected to have been brought for ransom payment,” he said.

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The command’s spokesperson, however, said the suspected kidnappers sustained gunshot injuries and escaped into the thick forest.

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He also said police personnel sustained follow-up operations and credible intelligence, which led to sighting the kidnappers on Sept. 13 at about 2030 hours along Idoani Road.

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“Operatives immediately mobilised to the area, resulting in the arrest of three suspects, while two of them sustained gunshot injuries to their legs.

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“The arrested suspects are: Abdullahi Abubakar, male, Ibrahim Abubakar, male, and Oseni Abubakar, male, all resident of Akunnu area.

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“The two rescued victims, subsequently came to the police station and positively identified the arrested suspects as their abductors,” he said.

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Jimoh, therefore, said the Bajaj motorcycle earlier recovered by the police had also been identified by the victims as being connected to the criminal operation.

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The spokesperson said the command would continue to deny criminal elements access to forests and other hideouts within the state, and sustain intelligence-led operations against kidnappers and other criminal elements.

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