Personnel of the Edo State Police Command have freed four individuals abducted by suspected kidnappers along the Lagos-Benin Expressway.
The victims were rescued through a joint operation involving the police, members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), local hunters and other supporting security agencies.
The command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem, said in a statement that the police received intelligence that about three armed men wearing vigilante uniforms had blocked the Ugbokun section of the Lagos/Benin Expressway with logs and leaves, attacked motorists and taken some passengers into the bush.
She explained that after receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer of Okada Division quickly deployed a combined team of police officers, vigilante members, local hunters and other security collaborators to the area.
According to her, the team immediately launched an intensive bush-combing exercise, supported by drone technology, to locate the victims and strengthen the rescue operation.
She added that due to the sustained pressure mounted on the criminals, they abandoned the victims and escaped, resulting in the successful rescue of the captives.
The spokesperson identified the victims as Muritala Babatunde, Bello Aminat, Otor Prince and Yeiyah Gift, and said they had been reunited with their families.
She further stated that efforts were continuing to track down the fleeing suspects and ensure they are brought to justice.
