In a dramatic turn of events, local hunters and vigilantes in Kwara State have successfully rescued five wedding guests who were abducted by gunmen while en route to the Odo-Owa community from Kogi State. The victims, members of the same family, had been seized on Saturday around 4 p.m. in Obbo-Ayegunle, within Ekiti Local Government Area.
The daring rescue operation, carried out on Tuesday, has been hailed as a major victory for community-driven security efforts. The abductors, reportedly demanding a staggering ransom of N100 million for their release, were outmaneuvered by the swift and coordinated action of the hunters and vigilantes.
Sources close to the incident revealed that the rescued victims are now receiving medical attention at a local hospital, where they were visited by the Chairman of Oke-Ero Local Government Area. The rescue mission also reportedly freed eight additional captives, though details remain unconfirmed as of press time.
The harrowing ordeal has spotlighted the resilience and bravery of local security groups in the face of rising insecurity in the region. Despite attempts to reach the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Ejire Adeyemi Toun, for an official statement, no response has been received as of Wednesday.
This development underscores the growing reliance on local vigilante groups in combating crime, with many hailing their efforts as instrumental in addressing the gaps left by conventional security forces.