Nine kidnap victims rescued as security operatives kill three suspected bandits in Kwara
Nine abducted persons have been rescued after a joint security team killed three suspected bandits during an operation in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The operation was carried out by the Kwara State Forest Guards, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), local hunters and vigilantes in the Obbo-Aiyegunle, Ejiu-Ora and Osi axis of the state.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of Ekiti Local Government Council, Dada Sunday, the victims were kidnapped after a market day in Eju community and were being taken through a forest route towards Niger State before security operatives intercepted the attackers.
One of the rescued victims, Umaru Muazu, said he and his son were seized at gunpoint by the kidnappers during the attack.
Another victim, Ibrahim Danga, said the victims had spent only a short time in captivity before the security team rescued them.
A member of the Kwara Forest Guards, Owolabi Adebayo, said the rescue followed an intelligence-led operation that resulted in a gun battle with the suspected bandits.
According to him, three suspects were killed while nine kidnapped victims regained their freedom. He added that one of the rescued victims was receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the incident.
Adebayo, however, appealed for improved logistics, including body armour, night-vision equipment, communication devices and additional ammunition, to strengthen operations against criminal groups operating in forests.
The Chief Security Officer of Ekiti Local Government Area, Agbemuko Gabriel, praised the Forest Guards for their role in the operation, describing their intelligence gathering and security efforts as vital to tackling insecurity in the area.
Authorities also displayed motorcycles allegedly recovered from the suspected bandits during the operation.
The rescue comes as security agencies intensify bush-combing operations across Kwara’s southern axis to combat kidnapping and banditry in border communities. It also follows the Federal Government’s approval for a new Nigerian Army battalion in Omu-Aran to strengthen security operations in the state.
