Security operatives in Ondo state are on the trail of some bandits who reportedly kidnapped some 32 persons in a coastal bus returning from Benin City, Edo State on Saturday evening.
The 32 victims who were kidnapped were returning to Akure, after attending the burial ceremony and were stopped by the hoodlums along Benin-Ifon road.
The victims were said to be travelling with others in two other vehicles when their coastal bus was stopped but the drivers of the other vehicles stopped while the occupants in the two vehicles jumped out and fled into the bushes.
It was gathered that the kidnappers marched the victims out of the vehicles and whisked all occupants including the driver of the vehicle to an unknown destination in the forest.
It was further learnt that some of the occupants escaped while being taken to the kidnappers’ den but the source disclosed many of the victims are still with the kidnappers.
However, security operatives in the state including, the state security outfit, Amotekun are on the trail of the kidnappers, combing the Benin-Ifon to Owo forest in the state in search of the 32 persons reportedly kidnapped in a coastal bus.
The State Police command confirmed the development while the Commander of Amotekun in the state, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, also confirmed the abduction.
Adeleye, in a telephone chat, said the command would do all within its power to rescue the victims and rid the state of criminals.
Adeleye explained that men of the Amokekun corp and other security agencies had been briefed and had since commenced search for the victims.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that security operatives have rescued two people out of the kidnapped victims, while it was discovered that the kidnappers abducted only 11 people during the raid.
A source who disclosed that most of the victims were photographers who attended a burial ceremony in Edo State, said most of the kidnapped victims escaped while they were being moved to the forest.
He said the kidnappers succeeded in abducting 11 persons while others escaped but said security operatives combing the bush rescued two of the victims.
Security operatives coming to the area were said to have rescued two of the victims while search was still on for other victims.
Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Funmi Odunlami, said a combined team of security operatives were still in the forest.
“It was 11 persons that were kidnapped. We have rescued some of them and our men are still in the bush.”