The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed that seven individuals were abducted by armed hoodlums along the Obbo-Aiyegunle/Osi Road in Ekiti Local Government Area of the state.
The incident occurred around 6:30 PM on Saturday, April 19, when eight gunmen ambushed a Sienna vehicle with registration number FFA 50 XD. The vehicle, which was travelling from Abuja to Offa, was intercepted, and all seven occupants, including the driver, were kidnapped.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said police officers responded promptly with the help of local vigilantes after receiving a distress call.
“The vehicle was recovered and moved to the nearest police formation. During a coordinated search of the surrounding bush, three children aged between two and twelve years were found and safely rescued,” said SP Ejire-Adeyemi.
The police explained that one of the rescued children gave important information about her guardian. This helped facilitate the reunion of the rescued children with their family members.
While the whereabouts of the other victims are still unknown, the police have promised to do everything possible to bring them back safely.
“The Kwara State Command has intensified efforts through discreet investigation, intelligence gathering, and sustained bush combing to track down the perpetrators and secure the safe rescue of the remaining victims,” SP Ejire-Adeyemi added.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, reaffirmed the Command’s determination to protect lives and property in the state.
“We are fully committed to bringing the perpetrators of this act to justice and reuniting the victims with their families. We urge members of the public to provide any useful information that may assist in this operation through the established channels of the Kwara State Police Command,” said CP Ojo.
The Command has also urged residents to remain calm and cooperative, assuring them that measures are being put in place to prevent such incidents in the future. The public was also encouraged to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to security agencies promptly.
