A joint effort by security agencies and the Amotekun Corps ensured the safe release of the seven travellers abducted along the Osogbo-Ibokun road on Tuesday without any payment to the abductors, Amotekun Corps commander in Osun, Amitolu Shittu, told Peoples Gazette.

The abductees were rescued by the security operatives during the weekend.

Mr. Shittu who spoke with the Gazette on Saturday narrated that the travellers were attacked and kidnapped in Obokun Local Government Area. He said one of the victims was killed in the process.

” The information we had last week was that seven travellers were abducted by some criminal elements in Ibokun, they killed one person and kidnapped seven people. We have been working with the police officers since then and with the joint efforts of the SSS, police and Amotekun we were able to reduce them,” Mr. Shittu said.

Speaking further, he explained that the team of security operatives mounted serious pressure on the kidnapper which led to the rescue of the abductors without any ransom being paid.

” They regained their freedom in Ibokun without paying ransom, there was serious heat mounted on the kidnappers by the police and Amotekun officers. The travellers have been reunited with their families.”

Mr. Shittu promised that such an incident would not happen again in that axis.

” Ibokun road is a federal road, and one of the safest in the state but we have changed our strategy to hit harder on the criminal elements  among the perpetrators that are killing people in the territory. Never again will such happen in Ibokun. The kidnappers are the number one enemies of Nigeria,” he said.

The police in Osun had earlier released a statement announcing the rescue of the victims, the Gazette earlier reported.

“The victims were released due to the pressure mounted on the abductors by the Police and other security agencies. The victims will soon be reunited with their families,” police spokesperson Yemisi Opalola said in the statement on Saturday.

She noted that the state police commissioner, Olawale Olokode, has vowed to ensure that such an incident does not happen again while appealing to citizens to help get rid of all criminal elements in the state.

“The Commissioner of Police appeals to the good citizens of the State to collaborate with Police to get rid of all criminal elements from the State, while assuring the members of the public/commuters of their safety as security measures have been put in place to forestall future occurrence,” Ms. Opalola said.