A female victim of a kidnapping incident in Parubber community, Ileoluji-Okeigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, has died while security operatives were pursuing her abductors.
The Ondo State Commander of the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this on Monday while addressing journalists in Akure, the state capital.
Adeleye said the woman and another victim were rescued several kilometres into the forest after they were abducted from a livestock farm in the community on Friday.
According to him, the woman died from exhaustion and the stress she suffered during the operation to rescue the victims.
He said efforts to revive her were unsuccessful when security operatives eventually reached her.
“The lady was exhausted, and we couldn’t revive her because we met her dead or unconscious,” Adeleye said.
The second victim, a man, was rescued alive.
The victims were reportedly abducted when armed men, wearing masks and carrying AK-47 rifles, emerged from the bush and attacked the livestock farm.
The kidnappers later demanded N100 million as ransom.
One Yemi Omowale, who witnessed the incident, reportedly escaped being abducted by the gunmen.
The incident triggered the deployment of personnel from Amotekun, the police and other security agencies, following assurances that the victims would be rescued.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was also said to have directed Amotekun to ensure the safe rescue of the victims.
Adeleye said the successful operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence gathering and bush-combing efforts by security agencies, despite the changing tactics adopted by criminal elements.
“I think every day they are coming up with new strategies and that is why we equally developed non-kinetic measures in addition to intelligence-driven bush combing that we did,” he said.
He said the victims had been taken deep into the forest, making their rescue particularly challenging.
Adeleye added that the operation had sent a strong message to criminals operating in the state.
“The good news is that we have sent signals by this action that there is no hiding place for criminals in Ondo State,” he said.
Meanwhile, Amotekun operatives have arrested several suspects allegedly involved in kidnapping and cattle rustling in parts of Odigbo Local Government Area.
Adeleye said the suspects were linked to cattle theft in Ore, Ode-Aye, Ofosu and Omotosho, with some of the stolen animals allegedly sold to buyers at significantly reduced prices.
He said the main suspects involved in the operation had been arrested, alongside individuals allegedly responsible for purchasing the stolen cattle, while some collaborators were still at large.
According to the commander, some stolen cattle were sold for less than N100,000 through established markets across the state.
“These cow rustlers and their collaborators are on parade,” Adeleye said.
The security agency also paraded two suspects identified as Akinlolu and Akintimi, who are facing allegations of illegal possession of firearms.
Another suspect, identified as 30-year-old Jamiu, was arrested for allegedly vandalising buildings under construction.
Adeleye said Jamiu allegedly removed electrical cables, plumbing installations and other fittings from uncompleted buildings.
The commander maintained that the state remains safe based on the agency’s current crime record, despite recent kidnapping incidents.
His statement came a day after Amotekun operatives rescued two men who were reportedly kidnapped around the Ala-Dada axis.
According to the agency, a distress call was received shortly after the abduction, prompting the deployment of operatives into the surrounding forest, where the two victims were subsequently rescued.
