Operatives of the Ondo State Security Network Agency, popularly known as Amotekun Corps, have rescued two abducted Fulani herders from a kidnappers’ hideout in a forest along the Ondo–Edo State boundary.
The rescue followed a coordinated search operation launched after a distress call from the families of the victims.
It was learnt that the victims, both young cattle herders, were reportedly kidnapped while grazing their livestock in the Owo forest axis. Their disappearance sparked anxiety among relatives after they failed to return home as expected, prompting an urgent appeal to the Amotekun Corps for intervention.
Acting on intelligence provided by the victims’ parents, Amotekun operatives reportedly mobilised a rescue team and combed the dense forest in collaboration with members of the affected families. The search eventually led security personnel to a suspected kidnappers’ camp hidden deep within the forest.
Speaking on the operation, the Commander of the Ondo State Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, said the criminals fled the scene after discovering that security operatives had located their hideout.
According to him, the kidnappers abandoned the victims in their haste to escape, allowing the operatives to rescue the two herders alive and without injuries.
“The kidnappers abandoned the victims and fled after realising that their camp had been uncovered,” Adeleye said.
He added that the victims were successfully recovered unharmed and reunited with their families after the rescue operation.
Although the commander did not disclose if weapons were recovered during the operation, he reaffirmed the corps’ commitment to sustaining aggressive operations against criminal elements operating in forests and other remote areas of the state.
The latest rescue comes at a time when forests stretching across parts of Ondo and neighbouring states have remained vulnerable to criminal gangs involved in kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery and other violent crimes.
In June, Ondo Amotekun paraded no fewer than 97 criminal suspects, including women who were arrested across all 18 council areas within 14 days.The arrests covered those involved in kidnapping, violation of the anti-open grazing law, burglary, robbery, vehicle hijacking and theft.
Adeleye had pointed out a new trend where women of different ages travelled into interior forests with household utensils, mortars, pestles, bedding and cooking items.
“Upon interrogation, they confirmed they were fleeing security pressure in the North. They admitted they were invited by some members of these northern groups to destabilise peace in the southern part of the state,” he had said.
Adeleye had also cited one suspect who invited two people to work, but they brought 51 others into the forest with various goods.
According to him, arrests also included members of armed robbery and kidnapping gangs operating in Ikare, Kajola, Akure, Ilu-Abo, Akure North, Mure, Oja-Mokan and other locations.
Amotekun is a regional security outfit established by the South-West states in Nigeria to complement conventional security agencies.
It has intensified patrols and intelligence-driven operations in recent months. The corps has participated in several raids targeting suspected kidnappers, bandits and other criminal syndicates across the region.
