The  Kwara Police Command in Kwara says it rescued 13 kidnap victims in a swift and coordinated operation.

The command’s public relations officer, DSP Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, said this in a statement on Saturday in Ilorin, the state capital.

According to Ms  Ejire-Adeyemi, the achievement demonstrates the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of residents.

She said a joint operation involving the police and the Oke-Ero Local Government Security Initiative personnel rescued the victims, who were forcefully abducted by armed assailants on their way to a wedding in Kogi.

“The Kwara State Police Command has achieved yet another remarkable success in its fight against criminal activities with the rescue of 13 kidnapped victims following a distress call on December 21, 2024.

“Acting on credible intelligence and with the support of local informants, the security operatives swiftly mobilised to the suspects’ hideout located in the Idofin-Igbana area.

“Upon sighting the security team, the kidnappers, six in number and some dressed in military uniforms engaged the operatives in a gun battle but were overpowered by the superior firepower of the rescue team.

“The suspects fled the scene with various degrees of injuries, abandoning their captives in the process,” he said.

According to him, the rescued victims include three females and 10 males from various locations, including Odo-Owa in Oke-Ero LGA, Ilorin, Ogbomoso, and a group of trailer drivers en route to Kogi.

“While two victims sustained minor gunshot injuries, all other victims were immediately provided with medical care at a nearby hospital, stabilised, and subsequently reunited with their families,” Ms Ejire-Adeyemi said.

Ms Ejire-Adeyemi quoted the state Commissioner of Police, CP Victor Olaiya, as commending the resilience and swift response of the operatives.

(NAN)