The Police Command in Ondo State has rescued two kidnap victims and arrested three suspected members of a kidnapping gang.
The arrest followed a gun duel with the criminals in a forest along the Ifira-Idoani axis of Isua-Akoko in Akoko South-East Local Government Area.
Thefrontrank reports that the command also recovered N1.5 million suspected ransom during the operation.
A statement by the spokesperson for the command on Tuesday, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, stated that the operation began on Friday, September 11, 2026, following credible intelligence that suspected kidnappers were hiding in the forest preparing to collect ransom.
Acting on the information, the police working with the Amotekun Corps, and Agbe-Koya, mounted an ambush along the suspected route into the forest.
The security operatives maintained surveillance for several hours before about four armed suspects emerged at about 11.30pm.
The suspects opened fire after sighting the operatives, leading to an exchange of gunfire during which the security team tactically repelled the attack and rescued the two victims, identified as Mr Owolabi Patrick and Asoto Dada, unhurt.
The security operatives also recovered N1.5 million suspected to have been brought for ransom payment.
The suspects reportedly sustained gunshot injuries before escaping into the forest.
However, following sustained follow-up operations and further intelligence, the suspects were sighted along Idoani Road at about 8.30pm on Sunday, September 13.
The operatives mobilised to the area and arrested three suspects, two of whom sustained gunshot injuries on their legs.
The suspects were identified as Abdullahi Abubakar, Ibrahim Abubakar and Oseni Abubakar, all male residents of the Akunnu area.
The rescued victims later appeared at the police station and positively identified the three suspects as the men who abducted them.
The victims also identified a Bajaj motorcycle earlier recovered by the police as being connected with the criminal operation.
The command reaffirmed its determination to deny criminals access to forests and other hideouts across the state.
It promised to sustain intelligence-led operations against kidnappers and other criminals.
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