Four commuters who were abducted on Tafida-Imesi-Ile and Ilare-Esa-Odo roads on July 4 and 5, 2021, have been rescued by the Osun State Police Command.
Sadly, a local security operative who was part of the rescue team lost his life while one of the abducted victims was injured during an exchange of gunfire between the police and the kidnappers.
The rescue was said to have been made possible through efforts of the state Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, with the support of other security outfits.
Disclosing this on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, the command’s spokeswoman, SP Yemisi Opalola, said that after the abduction was reported through a distress call, Olokode drafted a combined team of police tactical unit, Joint Task Force and other security outfits on a rescue mission of the abducted commuters.
“The victims were rescued just about 1505 hours (3:05pm) today, 6th July, 2021, along Ere-Ijesa, Ibokun road, owing to the pressure mounted on the abductors by the police and other security agencies.
“No ransom was paid, but, unfortunately, we lost one of the local security operatives while one of the victims was injured during the exchange of gunfire with the kidnappers, and is responding to treatment,” the PPRO stated.
She said that the Commissioner of Police appealed to residents of the state to report any suspected person(s) with bullet wounds to the police.
Olokode also assured members of the public and commuters of their safety as security measures had been put in place to forestall future occurrence.