The Ondo State Police Command has rescued two kidnapped victims in Isua-Akoko, the headquarters of Akoko South-East Local Government Area of the state.
Three suspected kidnappers were arrested during the operation, while the police also recovered N1.5 million believed to have been brought as ransom.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, said the operation followed credible intelligence that suspected kidnappers were hiding in a forest along the Ifira-Idoani axis and planning to collect ransom.
Jimoh said police operatives, working with the Amotekun Corps and Agbe-Koya, mounted surveillance along the suspected route and waited for several hours.
According to him, the suspects, numbering about four and armed with firearms, emerged from the forest at about 11:30 p.m. and opened fire after sighting the security operatives.
The security team responded to the attack and successfully rescued the two victims, identified as Owolabi Patrick and Asoto Dada. During the operation, the operatives recovered N1.5 million suspected to have been intended for ransom payment.
The arrested suspects were identified as Abdullahi Abubakar, Ibrahim Abubakar and Oseni Abubakar, all residents of the Akunnu area.
The police spokesperson added that the rescued victims later identified the three suspects at the police station as some of those involved in their abduction.
A Bajaj motorcycle previously recovered by the police was also identified by the victims as being linked to the kidnapping operation. The motorcycle has been kept in police custody as investigations continue.