By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo
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The Osun State Police Command said it has rescued one out of six farmers reportedly kidnapped in a community sharing boundary with Kwara State.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Yemisi Opalola who confirmed the incident in a statement issued to newsmen, said the incident occurred on Monday and it was reported in Okuku, Odo-Otin local government area of the state.
According to her,“The Osun State Police Command is using this medium to inform the general public that, the Command is aware of the news trending on social media that, ‘gunmen kidnapped six farmers in Osun community’ and wish to set the record straight that the incident happened at Aworo village near Agbamu town in Irepodun Local Government of Kwara State.
“On August 21, 2023, one Mrs Grace Adepoju from Oyan Town in Odo-Otin L.G. area of Osun State, her surveyor and four others went to Agbamu, a community in Irepodun L.G. area of Kwara State for commercial transaction and while returning from the said town at about 6:30pm, they were attacked and kidnapped at Aworo town in Kwara State, which happens to share borders with Osun State.
“The Divisional Police Officer Okuku, Osun State was contacted and he quickly mobilized his men alongside local hunters, vigilante and later joined by the Osun State Anti-Kidnapping squad that evening to pursue the kidnappers since the area was a few kilometers from his Division.
“As a result of pressure mounted on the kidnappers by the team, they were disorganized which led to the escape of Mrs Grace Adepoju unhurt at about 3:00am of August 22, 2023 and she has since reunited with her family, while assisting in the rescue of other victims.
“The team while combing the forest, arrested two other persons suspected to be informants to the kidnappers who are presently in custody of the police team from Kwara State,
The statement added that policemen from both Commands and other stakeholders including hunters and vigilantes are still combing the forests of the states with a view to rescuing the other victims.’’
