According to the report from the Vanguard, In a harrowing incident, a 74-year-old woman, Madam Alicia Afolayan, and a driver, Kabiru Yakubu, were rescued along with four others after being abducted in the Akunu area of Akoko, Ondo State. The victims shared their traumatic experiences while in captivity.
Six of the eight passengers were abducted on Tuesday between Akunu in the Akoko Northeast council area of Ondo State and Ayere in the Ijumu council area of Kogi State. The victims, en route to Abuja, were rescued through the combined efforts of the Nigerian Army and the state security outfit, Amotekun.
According to reports, security personnel conducted a thorough search of the forest where the victims were held, ultimately leading to their rescue.
Madam Afolayan and Yakubu, the driver, provided a detailed account of the incident. "There were eight passengers in the vehicle before we were attacked and kidnapped at gunpoint," said Afolayan. She described the ordeal as occurring around 7 pm, with their rescue taking place at approximately 10 pm.
She said, "It was so sudden. All the passengers in the vehicle ran into the forest, and everyone scampered for safety. The kidnappers immediately brought white dogs to trace us in the forest, and some of the passengers were picked up where they were hiding."
The victims have since reunited with their families, but the search continues for the remaining two individuals still missing. Local hunters have joined the search efforts, intensifying the hunt for the kidnappers and the remaining captives.
Alhaji Abass Olorunosebi, a community leader in Akunu, expressed confidence in the ongoing rescue efforts, assuring that the remaining two victims would be found unhurt.
This incident underscores the persistent security challenges in the region and highlights the need for continued vigilance and collaboration among security forces and local communities to ensure safety and protection for all residents.