At least seven passengers have been kidnapped on a highway, the police command in Kwara says.

According to a police statement, the command rescued four of the seven people abducted on Ilorin-Omu-Aran road on Saturday.

A spokesman for the command Ajayi Okasanmi disclosed this on Sunday.

The command said it received reports of two separate kidnaps simultaneously on Saturday at about 5:35 p.m. on Oke-Onigbin/Omu-Aran highway and Ekiti -Ekan Meje axis.

It further stated that six armed men emerged from the bush and stopped a Siena bus in transit from Ekiti on its way to Ilorin and whisked away the seven occupants of the vehicle.

“The command promptly dispatched its tactical units, comprising the anti-kidnapping and anti-cultists units, joined by local hunters and vigilantes while policemen who were on patrols on the routes were alerted,” said the police. “The abductors were instantly chased into the bushes. Four out of the seven abducted persons were rescued. Efforts are still in top gear to get the remaining three rescued.”

The police added that “deploying similar tactics by operatives,” those abducted in Ekan-Meje-Ekiti axis “using the same modus” were also rescued, “remaining a pastor and his wife whom the command is frantically doing everything possible to rescue unhurt.”

Meanwhile, the command disclosed it had nabbed some suspects and were helping the command in its investigation.

“The situation is under control. The good people of Kwara state are advised to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation and attack,’’ the police said.

(NAN)