During a bloody gunfight in Kwara State's Ekiti Local Government Area, three suspected bandits were killed and nine of their captives were rescued thanks to an intelligence-led operation by Department of State Services (DSS) agents.

It was discovered that the victims included farmers who had been taken from their farms and others who had been kidnapped earlier in neighboring Ekiti State.

After the abductors were forced to escape under intense gunfire, leaving their prisoners behind, they were freed.

The operation was conducted in the Obbo Aiyegunle, Ejiu Ora, and Osi axis of Ekiti LGA, which borders Kwara and Ekiti States. It also involved the Kwara State Forest Guards, local hunters, and vigilantes.

Prince Dada Sunday, the chief press secretary to the chairman of Ekiti LGA, verified the operation on Wednesday.

He said that the successful rescue effort was a result of intelligence obtained by security authorities.

According to Sunday, the more than ten kidnappers had gathered victims who had been kidnapped from various areas before the security personnel overpowered them.

He said that one of the victims was wounded with a machete while fighting kidnapping, resulting in severe head injuries.

Umaru Muazu of Obbo Aiyegunle, one of the rescued victims, described their experience, claiming that armed men abruptly appeared and took him and his kid.

“They came from nowhere and pointed a gun to my head. Four of them took me and my son. They also took my friend’s motorcycle before marching us into the bush,” he recounted. Another rescued farmer, Ibrahim Danga, said the victims had been held captive before security operatives arrived and engaged the kidnappers.

Source