Residents and travellers along the Akoko axis of Ondo State were thrown into panic after suspected kidnappers ambushed two commercial buses and abducted several passengers in the early hours of Friday.

The victims were said to be travelling from Benue State to Ibadan when the gunmen intercepted the two Hummer buses at Isua in Akoko North-East Local Government Area and forced the passengers into a nearby forest.

The Ondo State Police Command confirmed that 12 victims had so far been rescued alive following a coordinated operation involving police operatives, local hunters and other security stakeholders.

According to the Command, the attack occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Friday when armed men reportedly laid siege to the road before stopping the vehicles and dragging some passengers away.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Friday.

Jimoh said the Command immediately activated a rescue operation after receiving a distress report on the incident.

He explained that operatives of the Command, alongside local hunters and other security collaborators, were swiftly mobilised to the area to rescue the victims and apprehend the abductors.

According to him, the combined team commenced an intensive bush-combing operation across forests and difficult terrains surrounding the community, while intelligence-led surveillance was also intensified to track the fleeing suspects.

The police spokesman stated that the sustained pressure mounted by the rescue team led to the successful rescue of 12 kidnapped victims, including the drivers of the affected buses.

He added that the rescued victims were receiving necessary medical attention and support, while arrangements were ongoing to reunite them with their families.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Felix Ohagwu, visited the scene of the incident for an on-the-spot assessment and strategic meeting with community leaders, vigilante groups and other stakeholders in the area.

The police commissioner reassured residents that operations were ongoing to secure the release of the remaining victims and arrest all those involved in the attack, while urging members of the public to support security agencies with timely and credible information capable of aiding ongoing operations.