The Edo State Police Command has said its operatives rescued nine victims from two separate kidnapping incidents in the state.
Its spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, in a statement released on Saturday said five victims were rescued from the incident involving a GUO transport bus along the Benin-Lagos Expressway, while four others were freed from captivity in the Imiegba forest in Agenebode, Edo North.
The statement read, “The Edo State Police Command is pleased to inform the general public that all five victims abducted during the recent kidnapping incident along the Benin–Lagos Expressway have been successfully rescued alive.
“This breakthrough was achieved following the immediate and massive deployment of tactical teams, intelligence assets, aerial surveillance, and other operational resources by the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, to the affected corridor.
“The sustained rescue efforts, coordinated bush-combing operations, and strategic dominance of the area exerted pressure on the kidnappers, ultimately leading to the safe rescue of all five victims. They have since received medical evaluation and treatment, and reunited with their families.
“The command also successfully rescued four other kidnapped victims who were abducted earlier this month and held in captivity within the Imiegba forest in Agenebode.
“They have likewise received medical attention and are safe, making a total of nine kidnapped victims rescued.”
The command reassured the public that security deployment along the Benin-Lagos Expressway and adjoining communities had been significantly strengthened, adding that tactical, intelligence, and operational assets had been fully activated across the axis.
It also said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators. “We are confident that all those involved will be tracked down and brought to justice in the shortest possible time,” the statement added.
The PUNCH had reported that gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Sunday killed a bus driver and abducted an unspecified number of passengers travelling from Lagos to the eastern part of the country after opening fire on the vehicle and forcing it to a halt.
A video that circulated online captured the aftermath of the attack, with a narrator alleging that passengers were dragged into the bush after the driver was shot dead.
“The kidnappers shot and killed the driver. They also took passengers into the bush. I don’t know the number, but it looks like the entire bus was taken,” the narrator said.
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