About 30 kidnappers were killed and over 50 hostages freed during a heavy gun battle between security operatives and the criminals at hideouts in Babasango, Ifelodun Local Council of Kwara State.

Babasango is a community in the Babanla area of the council. Confirming the development late Tuesday night, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye, said: “The security operation has been a modest success, despite the ambush laid for the government forces. Several of the criminals were eliminated, and dozens of their victims have fled the area. Many are now in Babanla and Shagbe.”

He disclosed that a forest guard earlier feared dead during the confrontation had safely returned home after the operation, which lasted from Sunday into Monday morning.

According to him, many hostages escaped after their captors fled in the face of the offensive by the security forces.

“Many of their abductors died in the encounter with the security forces, while others fled to safety. While a lot may need to be done, the Sunday night operation has posted appreciable success in the government’s efforts to rout the criminals,” Ajakaye said.

He added that community leaders in Babanla had reported seeing many kidnap victims who escaped from Babasango following the operation. Ajakaye stressed that security crackdowns would continue until “the cowards are totally chased out of the state.”