By DADA AYOKHAI
Edo State Police Command said it has rescued 14 persons who were kidnapped in Ibillo, Akoko Edo while on transit from Benue state to ilorin, Kwara state for a wedding ceremony.
The police image maker, SP Chidi Nwabuzor made the disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin on Friday.
Nwabuzor said the victims were among persons kidnapped in a two luxury buses on their way from Benue state to a wedding ceremony in Ilorin.
He said the persons were kidnapped on Thursday, November 24, 2022 at 4pm along Lagos–Abuja Road, by Ikeran Oke, Ibillo, in Akoko – Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.
He said the police command was aware of the incident about 5:15pm on Thursday through the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ibillo Division.
The state police image maker said nine persons were rescued on Thursday while five others were also rescued on Friday adding that an unspecified numbers of the victims were still missing.
“The Command at about 1715hrs of date through the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ibillo Division, received the information that hoodlums who were operating at the aforementioned location under Ibillo Divisional Police Headquarters in Edo State, attacked and kidnapped the passengers of two Costal Buses who were travelling from Benue State to Ilorin, Kwara State for a wedding ceremony but en route through Ibillo town in Edo State
“Immediately, the DPO mobilized patrol team, the Army personnel, Edo State Security Network personnel and the local hunters to the bush which resulted to rescue of nine (9) victims while unspecified number are still missing.
“Early hours of today, Friday 25th November, 2022. Five (5) other passengers (victims) were rescued inside the bush as the DPO and the security men embarked on aggressive bush combing operations for possible rescue of all the passengers”, he said.
Nwabuzor said the Commissioner
of Police in the state command, Mohammed Dankwara has vowed to ensure that all the kidnap victims are rescued and united with their families and loved ones.
He explained that the commissioner has given marching order to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ibillo to work with the command’s tactical teams to ensure that the other victims are released unhurt.
He, however, advised the families and loved ones of the kidnap victims to remain calm.
