Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. on May 23, 2026. The victims were travelling in two commercial Hummer buses from Benue State to Ibadan when a group of armed men intercepted the vehicles at Isua, Akoko South-East Local Government Area of the state. The attackers reportedly forced several passengers out of the vehicles and marched them into a nearby forest.
The Ondo State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner Felix Ohagwu, immediately activated a joint rescue operation. Operatives of the command were swiftly deployed alongside local hunters and other security stakeholders to the scene. The combined team launched an intensive bush-combing operation across the surrounding forests and difficult terrains where the victims were believed to have been taken, while intelligence-led surveillance and strategic tracking efforts were intensified to trail the fleeing suspects.
“The sustained pressure mounted by the combined security team yielded significant success as 12 kidnapped victims, including the drivers of the affected buses, were successfully rescued alive,” Jimoh said. He added that the rescued victims were receiving necessary medical attention and support while arrangements were being made to reunite them with their families.
In furtherance of the operation, Commissioner Ohagwu visited the scene of the incident for an on-the-spot assessment, where he held strategic engagements with community heads, local vigilante groups and other relevant stakeholders within the axis. During the meeting, he stressed the need for sustained collaboration between the police, local communities and other security actors in order to facilitate the rescue of the remaining victims and prevent future occurrences of such criminal activities in the area.
While the rescue of 12 passengers is a significant breakthrough, the police have not rested. Jimoh noted that additional tactical and intelligence assets have been deployed to reinforce the ongoing manhunt for the fleeing kidnappers and to rescue any other victims still in captivity. The command reassured the public that it remained resolute in its determination to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.
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