An expatriate on a mining site in Iyere, a community in the Atakumosa West Local Government Area of Osun State who was abducted by bandits, has been rescued.
A resident, Taiwo Kolapo, said the expatriate was rescued along the Itagunmodi Road around 6.30pm on Saturday.
According to him, the rescue operation involved men of the Hunters Group of Nigeria, who were supported by operatives of the anti-kidnapping unit of the Osun State Police Command.
It was gathered that the rescue team had stormed part of the forest where the expatriate was held hostage for about four days and engaged the gunmen in a gun battle for about one hour.
“We could hear the gunshots. People were scared that the expatriate might have been killed during the exchange of gunfire. The bandits later abandoned the captive when hunters closed in on them.
“But at the end of the day, the expatriate was successfully rescued. He was bleeding and his face was partially covered by blood. He was brutalised by his abductors. The news of the successful rescue of the expatriate led to celebrations in Iyere,” Kolapo added.
The Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the rescue operation.
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