By Wilson Adekumola
At least 13 travelers were reportedly abducted by gunmen along Abuja road in Isua Akoko, Akoko South Local Government of Ondo State.
A source in the community said the victims were in an 18-passenger bus travelling to Abuja from Lagos when the gun-wielding men stormed them.
According to the source, ”The travellers bus was waylaid by the gunmen, they dragged them out of the bus and marched them into the forest.
“It was like a movie when an 13 passengers, Abuja bound bus was waylaid on Tuesday by some unknown gunmen at Isua, the headquarters of Akoko South East Local Government and marched them to the forest leaving only three of the passengers.”
In a swift response, security agencies including Personnel of the state security outfit, codenamed Amotekun, police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps as well as the soldiers, were deployed to the scene.
They reportedly comb the forest and some of the victims were rescued.
The victims, the source said were rescued at Ikakumo, which is a distance of almost 20 kilometers from where they were kidnapped
”The joint security agents immediately embarked on combing of the forest and their efforts yielded fruitful result when some of the abducted travelers were rescued during the joint operation.
According to him ” the rescued victims were said to have taken to the Isua Police Station .
Confirming the incident, the state Public Relations Officer, Funmi Odunlami, said one of the kidnappers was shot dead during a gun battle with the abductors.
She stated further the victims were rescued by the joint security operation. One of them was killed during gun duel. We are on top of the situation.”
