14 Osun kidnap victims rescued

Fourteen kidnap victims at Ajeokun Junction between Otan Ile and Imesi Ile in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State have been rescued by the police and local vigilante.

The Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Abiodun Ige, said all the victims abducted on Sunday evening by gunmen were rescued unhurt.

The victims were passengers of a commercial bus travelling from Osogbo to Abuja via Imesi/Otan-Ile road.

The victims were allegedly ambushed at Ajeokun Junction between Otan Ile and Imesi Ile before 14 of 18 passengers were whisked into the bush.

Poor condition of the road made it difficult for the driver of the bus to escape from the bandits, according to an eye witness account.

Osun State Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Chief Aladesawe Adedeji, confirmed that the 14 victims had been rescued.

He disclosed that the joint team of OPC, vigilante group, the police, the Department of State Security made frantic efforts to rescue the victims unhurt after gun duel with the bandits.

However, the police spokesperson in the state, Folasade Odoro, disclosed that some of bandits escaped into the bush with bullet wounds.

She said one vigilante sustained a minor injury from the gun battle between the security men and the bandits.