The Ondo State Police Command said it had rescued all the Corps members and other travellers kidnapped by bandits along the Ifon-Owo Expressway.

LIB reported that the gunmen numbering about 15, armed with AK-47 rifles, ambushed a commercial bus conveying the travellers at about 11 pm on Friday, July 19, 2024, at Omi Alafa Village in Ifon, Ose Local Government Area of the state.

The bandits killed a female passenger, and the bus driver and abducted others including five Corps members identified as Adewole Paul Oluwaseun, Oluwadara Feranmi (f), Andrew Patience (f), Oribamise Taiwo (f), and Ajayi Lekan (m). 

The spokesperson of the command, Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the release of the victims in a statement posted via X on Monday, July 22.

“Good news everyone. The kidnapped victims of Owo/Ifo have been released. The victims are currently at the police clinic in Owo. They will be handed over to their family members after they have been debriefed,” she stated. 

Meanwhile, it was gathered that the kidnappers had demanded a sum of N15m ransom, threatening to kill the victims if the families failed to pay. 

The kidnappers were said to have contacted the families of the victims over the weekend, demanding N30m per victim but reduced the random to N15m after negotiations.