Victor Ogunje
The Ekiti State Police Command has announced that five commuters kidnapped last week along Ayedun-Ilasa-Ayebode Road in Ikole Local Government Area of the state have regained freedom.
They were said to have been released on Sunday and no one could confirm whether ransom was paid or not.
The victims were kidnapped last week Thursday at various locations in Ilasa and Ayebode during coordinated attacks by bandits terrorising that axis in recent time.
Before the abductees were seized by gunmen, the bandits had engaged the soldiers, who were called by motorists who escaped into the bush in gun duel, causing sporadic gunshots that rented the air.
Apart from the five persons that were arrested, two other persons were said to have been hit by bullets and sustained bodily injuries during the shootout.
Confirming the release in a telephone chat yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sunday Abutu, said: “All the kidnap victims, five in all, have regained their freedom.
“They were released around Ikole Ekiti in the Ikole Local Government area following efforts that we (police and anothe agencies) put up combing the bush. The pressure was much, so the kidnappers had to let them go.
“Efforts are still on to apprehend the kidnappers for prosecution to ensure safety of the people.
“We advise that people should be security conscious and make sure that they report all suspected faces around their environment to the security agencies especially the police.”
