The founder of the Iru Ekun Security Network, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has announced the rescue of a woman and her son who were abducted in Igbope, Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State, following a joint operation involving his security team and operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.
According to a statement issued by Igboho’s media office on Saturday, the victims, Adijat Kubura Aliqlas and her son, Abdulmalik, were freed in a forest in Kwara State after a fierce exchange of gunfire between the kidnappers and the rescue team.
The statement, made available to journalists in Ibadan, said the operation lasted about three days and was driven by intensive intelligence gathering, surveillance and tracking of the abductors’ movements. It added that the kidnappers were lured into the operation through a planned ransom payment.
The rescue team said the suspects fled with gunshot wounds after the confrontation, abandoning the victims in the forest.
Giving details of the operation, Igboho said his team worked alongside officers led by ASP Amos Ajegoke and other policemen, spending several days in the forest to trace the kidnappers.
“Myself and my team members, with ASP Amos Ajegoke, including policemen, have been in the forest for days tracking the movement of the hoodlums to ascertain their location. But on July 2, we discovered that they were at Bode Sadu before Jebba. We moved there and remained there till Friday night.
“Around 12:00 a.m. (on Saturday), they came to collect the ransom as we had agreed. But we attacked them in the forest and there was an exchange of gunshots. We subsequently gave them a hot chase and combed the forest. They fled. Later, we found out that they had abandoned Adijat Kubura and Abdulmalik.
“We heard their voices shouting for help and were able to locate where the voices were coming from and rescued them. They are currently in Igboho General Hospital receiving medical attention,” he said.
Igboho also acknowledged the support of the Inspector-General of Police, whom he identified as Tunji Disu, saying the police chief coordinated efforts with the Commissioners of Police in Kwara and Niger states throughout the operation.
“It is crucial to say this operation and its success were made possible with the valuable support of the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, who was communicating with the Commissioners of Police in Kwara and Niger states, thus making the strenuous and arduous task fruitful after days and nights inside forests,” the statement added.
Reaffirming his commitment to safeguarding lives and property, Igboho assured residents of Oke-Ogun and Oyo State that his security outfit would continue to complement lawful efforts aimed at tackling insecurity.
He also urged Nigerians to support legitimate security operations and refrain from circulating unverified information capable of creating unnecessary fear and panic among the public.
