Troops of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Owena Cantonment, Akure, say they have rescued two kidnapped victims at the Iboropa forest in Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Capt. Ayorinde Omojokun, Acting Assistance Director, Army Public Relations, made this known in a statement on Friday in Akure.
Omojokun said that the troops together with other security agencies rescued the victims at about 1 p.m on Thursday.
According to him, the victims are Mr. Aremo Abiodun, a 50-year-old driver, and a trader, Mrs. Agnes Afogun (50), both from Ugbe Akoko in Akoko North-East Local Government Area of the state.
He further explained that the victims were kidnapped about 7 p.m on Tuesday while traveling to Simerin from Ugbe by unknown gunmen who moved them to one of their hideouts in the forest.
“The kidnappers contacted Akoko branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Mrs. Agnes’ husband, demanding ₦30 million ransom.
“With the support of the IGP-IRT team, troops were able to track the location of the kidnappers to the Iboropa forest.
“The security agencies swung into action and went in pursuit of the kidnappers. On sighting the troops, the kidnappers took to their heels and abandoned the victims,” he said.
Omojokun said a Dane gun and machetes were recovered from the fleeing kidnappers.
He also stated that the victims had been handed over to their families through Oba Yusuf Adebori Adeleye, Olubaka of Oakland in Akoko South East Local Government Area of the state, NAN reports.
