Ondo State Commander of the Amotekun, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, has confirmed that nine of the 12 passengers kidnapped by bandits at Idoani-Ifira Akoko area of the state on have been rescued by the men of the security outfit.

Starnews Nigeria had reported earlier today that that some armed bandits suspected to be kidnappers attacked an 18-seater bus along Idoani-Ifira Akoko axis in Akoko South East Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday evening abducting 12 out of the 18 passengers.

The armed men were said to have blocked the highway on the bad portion of the road and attacked the bus heading towards Lagos from Abuja, forcing the bus to stop abruptly on the highway. They dragged the victims into the bush to an unknown destination.

Adeleye explained that gunshots from the bandits attracted the officials of the Amotekun in the area who pursued the criminals into the bush.

He said only nine of the victims were rescued overnight by the Amotekun men while they are still combing the forest to rescue the other three victims.

Adeleye assured that the three other victims will be rescued unhurt while the hoodlums will be brought to book, saying the anti-kidnapping unit of the command had swung into action to ensure the release of the victims.

Meanwhile, a source close to one of the victims said that the kidnappers have demanded N10m as ransom for the release of the abducted passengers, saying the abductors have contacted some family members of the victims.

Meanwhile, an Ifira Akoko community leader, Chief Boboye Ojomo, has attributed incessant robberies and kidnapping on the axis to the deplorable state of the federal road from Ipele to Idoani and Isua Akoko which had been abandoned by the contractors handling the road project.

Ojomo called on Federal Government through the Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, to look into all federal roads in Ondo State as many are now in state of disrepair.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Funmi Odunlami, confirmed the development and said the state Police Command was already working with sister agencies in the state to ensure that the travellers were rescued unhurt.

She said detectives from the command had been deployed to the forest to fish out the criminals and rescue the travellers unhurt.

Odunlami said: “As I speak to you, our anti kidnapping unit has taken over that case and we expect something positive soon.”