Twelve passengers abducted during a roadside attack in Ondo State have been rescued following a joint security operation in Akoko South-East Local Government Area.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday at Isua Akoko, where armed men intercepted two commercial Hummer buses travelling from Benue State to Ibadan. The attackers reportedly forced several passengers off the vehicles and took them into nearby forested areas.
The Ondo State Police Command said it received a distress alert at about 1:30 a.m., triggering an immediate response involving police operatives, local hunters, and other security stakeholders.
A coordinated search-and-rescue effort was launched across surrounding forests and difficult terrain believed to be used as escape routes by the abductors. Security teams combined bush searches with intelligence tracking to locate the victims.
Twelve abducted passengers, including the drivers of both buses, were later found and brought out alive.
Medical personnel have since attended to the rescued individuals, while arrangements are being made for their return to their families.
Security operations in the area are still ongoing, as authorities say some victims remain unaccounted for and efforts continue to trace their whereabouts.
The Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, visited Isua Akoko after the operation. He met with community leaders and local vigilante groups, focusing discussions on coordination between residents and security agencies in responding to abduction incidents and other crimes.
Authorities say follow-up operations are continuing in nearby forests to track the suspects and recover any remaining victims.
