Police, vigilantes rescue kidnapped two-year-old child and 11 women in Kwara

Operatives of the Kwara State Police Command, hunters and vigilantes have rescued a two-year-old child and 11 market women who were kidnapped in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state. 

The victims were abducted along Ajase-ipo/Oke-Ode road near Oyi Bridge in Yaaru/Olayinka village between 6 and 7 pm last Wednesday while they were returning from the market. 

Spokesperson of the command, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, who confirmed the development on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, said the victims including a two-year-old child were rescued from their abductors by the security team.

“11 Market Women and a two-year-old child were rescued by the Security team who combed the forest in search of the kidnapped victims. All the victims have been rescued and released to their families,” he PPRO said. 

“Some of those that were injured during the rescue operation were taken to the General hospital, Share, Ifelodun Local Government Area and have been discharged after the treatment.” 

The Coordinator of Kwara South Joint Community Security Watch, Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, in a statement on Tuesday commended the Joint security team for their efforts in rescuing all the people abducted by the gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.

“The gallantry and steadfastness of Hunters/Vigilante on the successful rescue of all abductees in last Wednesday’s kidnapping along Ajassepo/Okeode Rd by Oyi bridge between Yaru-Olayinka in Ifelodun local government of the state is commendable,” he said. 

Oyin-Zubair said through spontaneous efforts of hunters and vigilantes, nine of the abductees regained their freedom a day after the incident.

“The rescue team of Hunters/ Vigilante and Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Police Force never rested in combing the forests till the last batch of the abductees regained their freedom yesterday (Monday.)”

He disclosed that no ransom was offered for any of the abductees despite persistent daily demands from the kidnappers.

Elder Oyin Zubair also disclosed that “the successful exercise of yesterday (Monday) rescue mission by a combined team of Hunters/Vigilante and the Military was made possible through intelligence gathering which hinted on the possible location of the bandits upon which the attacks on them was successfully carried out.”

He commended all those who supported the operations particularly the state Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, the Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, the Military Commander as well as the TIC Chairman, Ifelodun local government, Hon Jide Asonibare who provided logistics support and funds for the operations as well as treatment of the victims at General Hospital, Share.

Oyin-Zubair charged both uniformed and traditional security agencies to continue to work in unison to flush out the bandits in Kwara South in particular and the State as a whole.