March 21, 2022

The Police in Kwara has confirmed the killing of a kidnapped woman during a rescue operation by a combined team of security operatives and vigilantes.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Command, SP Ajayi Okasanmi, said on Sunday in Ilorin that the woman lost her life during an exchange of gunfire between the kidnappers, vigilantes and security operatives on Saturday.

Okansanmi said the incident happened around Araromi Opin and Obbo-Ile in Ekiti Local Government Area of the state.

He however expressed regrets over his delay in issuing a statement to that effect because of his involvement in the rescue operation.

No fewer than eight people were kidnapped in the area while returning from the inauguration of the state executive committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Of the eight people, five escaped leaving three with their abductors until the Saturday unfortunate incident.

An APC stalwart and a relative of one of the victims, Mr Adekunle Oluwole, also confirmed on Sunday that one of the victims lost her life during an exchange of gunfire.

He identified the deceased as the APC Woman Leader of Koro ward in Ekiti local government area of the state.

He said a member of the vigilante group in the area had noticed the presence of the kidnappers in one of the forests and went back home for reinforcement before they went back to seek the release of the victims.

Oluwole said the kidnappers were with three other people who are not members of APC, adding that one of their own people sustained gun injury and has been taken to the hospital for treatment.

He revealed that the other people kidnapped with the APC members were also rescued during the operation while the wounded victims have been taken to an undisclosed hospital in Osi, also in Ekiti local government area of the state.

Oluwole further confirmed that the community had earlier raised N5m as ransom to seek the release of their people. (NAN)