The Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Operation Amotekun, has rescued nine persons who were kidnapped by unknown gunmen along the Ipetumodu-Ilesa Expressway in Osun State.
This was disclosed by Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, Chairman of the Council of Amotekun Commanders in the South-West region and Ondo State Commander of the corps, at the Ondo headquarters of the corps in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Saturday.
According to Adeleye, the victims were rescued by the joint patrol team of the corps in Ondo and Osun states.
He disclosed that the corps responded to a distress call at about 1 am on Saturday and immediately they moved into the forest to rescue the victims, who were travellers.
He stated that efforts are ongoing to arrest the perpetrators.
He said: “Around 1am, we got a distress call from one of the families of the kidnap victims that the kidnappers called, asking for ransom. We thereafter moved into action. We were able to track the kidnappers. The victims were rescued and some of their valuables were retrieved but the kidnappers ran away.
“It was along Ipetumodu axis in Osun state and when we got to a village about 10km away from the road, we found out that the den is a regular dump area for kidnappers because we found so many items which show that it is a permanent place where they keep kidnap victims.
“However, we were able to rescue nine victims and a vehicle. Our men are there in the bush trailing the kidnappers but our major concern was to rescue the victims.
“Our medical team have been attending to them and after completion, we would take them to their various destinations so they can reunite with their families”
The Amotekun commander assured the people of Ondo and Osun states that corps would stop at nothing in collaborating with other security agencies at ensuring that criminals are driven away from the states