The police in Kwara State along with local hunters have rescued 13 victims of abduction.
Gunmen on December 21 abducted the victims in Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State as they were heading for a wedding in Kogi State.
But the kidnap victims were rescued in a joint operation involving the police and the Oke-Ero Local Government Security Initiative personnel.
Spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, in a statement, said: “Acting on credible intelligence and with the support of local informants, the security operatives swiftly mobilised to the suspects’ hideout located in Idofin-Igbana area.
“Upon sighting the security team, the kidnappers, six in number with some dressed to disguise in military uniforms, engaged the operatives in a gun battle but were overpowered by the superior firepower of the rescue team.
“The suspects fled the scene with various degrees of injuries, abandoning their captives in the process.
“The rescued victims include three females and 10 males from various locations, including Odo-Owa in Oke-Ero LGA, Ilorin, Ogbomoso and a group of trailer drivers en route to Kogi State.
“While two victims sustained minor gunshot injuries, all victims were immediately provided with medical care at a nearby hospital, stabilised and subsequently reunited with their families.”
The command commended “the resilience and swift response of the operatives and expressed gratitude to the local communities for the timely provision of credible information.”