Police Arrest Suspected Kidnappers, Rescue 7 Kidnapped Victims In Osun

By Ismaeel Uthman

The Osun State Police Command on Tuesday said it has rescued seven persons who were kidnapped in two different parts of the state late last year.

According to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Wale Olokode, the kidnapped victims were kidnapped on December 29 and 30, 2020 at Akure-Ilesa Expressway and Ila-Oyan road parts of the state.

Olokode in his maiden press conference stated that the police with the help of the Joint Task Force, vigilante group and other local security agents were able to rescue the victims within 48-hours without paying ransom.

He stated that 12 passengers of a Sharon Volkswagen bus who were coming from Ekiti State heading to Offa, along Asi-Oyan road,  were attacked and kidnapped by unknown gunmen on December 30, 2020.

Six of the kidnapped victims, according to Olokode, were later released while the other six victims were held captive by the kidnappers.

Olokode stated further that the Police were able to secure the release of the remaining six kidnapped victims on January 1, 2021 due to intensive police operations around the area.

He said two of the suspected kidnappers were arrested while their victims have been reunited with their families.

The police boss said a family of five traveling from Abuja to Lagos were also attacked and kidnapped by seven suspected herdsmen who were armed with AK47 riffles and cutlasses on December 29, 2020.

Olokode said the gunmen kidnapped one of the family members and released other four.

According to Olokode, the victim was rescued the following day by the police, saying that efforts were on to arrest the suspects.

The Commissioner of Police declared that there would not be any hiding place for criminals in the state.

He solicited for support of well meaning residents of the state in curbing crimes and criminal activities.