By Ado Oyeyemi
The Ondo State Police Command has rescued two kidnap victims and arrested three suspected members of a kidnapping gang following a gun battle in a forest along the Ifira-Idoani axis of Akoko, Ondo State.
The operation also led to the recovery of N1.5m suspected ransom money and foodstuffs, according to the command in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, on Tuesday.
The police said the operation began on Friday, September 11, 2026, following credible intelligence that suspected kidnappers hiding in the forest were planning to emerge from their hideout to collect ransom.
Acting on the information, operatives of the Isua Division, working with personnel of the Ondo State Security Network, Amotekun, and Agbe-Koya, reportedly mounted surveillance and an ambush along the suspected route.
At about 11:30pm, the suspects, said to be four and armed with firearms, emerged from the forest but opened fire after sighting the security operatives.
The security team reportedly returned fire and successfully rescued the two victims, identified as Owolabi Patrick and Asoto Dada, unhurt.
The police said N1.5m believed to have been brought for ransom payment was recovered during the encounter, while the suspected kidnappers sustained gunshot injuries and fled into the forest.
Following sustained follow-up operations and intelligence gathering, the suspects were reportedly sighted along the Idoani Road at about 8:30pm on Sunday, September 13.
The police subsequently arrested three of them, identified as Abdullahi Abubakar, Ibrahim Abubakar and Oseni Abubakar, all residents of the Akunnu area. Two of the suspects reportedly sustained gunshot injuries to their legs.
The command said the rescued victims later visited the police station and positively identified the three suspects as the men who abducted them. A Bajaj motorcycle earlier recovered by the police was also identified by the victims as being connected with the kidnapping operation.
The Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, commended the personnel of the Isua Division, Amotekun and Agbe-Koya for their courage and collaboration, directing that the case be transferred to the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad in Akure for discreet investigation.
The police said the investigation would focus on uncovering the wider network behind the operation and bringing all those linked to the crime to justice.
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The command also reaffirmed its determination to sustain intelligence-led operations aimed at denying kidnappers access to forests and other criminal hideouts across the state.
