Kidnapping: Vigilante group rescues five victims in Edo

Five kidnap victims in Esan West local government of Edo State have been rescued from their abductors by a local vigilante group in the area. It was gathered that the victims were rescued on Sunday by the local vigilante from Egoro Na Oka Community in the area. It was further gathered that the victims were […]

Five kidnap victims in Esan West local government of Edo State have been rescued from their abductors by a local vigilante group in the area.

It was gathered that the victims were rescued on Sunday by the local vigilante from Egoro Na Oka Community in the area.

It was further gathered that the victims were kidnapped on Saturday while coming from a burial ceremony.

The victims were alleged to have attended the burial ceremony in Egoro Na Oka community and were returning to Ekpoma town, when their vehicle was forced to stop by gunmen suspected to be herders.

One of the victims, who gave his name as John, said the kidnappers after forcing them to stop started shooting sporadically and ordered them to surrender their phones and moved them into the forest.

It was learnt that when information reached the village, the vigilante group quickly mobilised and condoned off the forest between Egoro NaOka, Urohi, Opoji, Ebudin communities and Ekpoma.

A member of the vigilante, Anuge Henry said the rescue operation took the whole night.

“We combed the forest through the night and after much effort, we were able to rescue the five victims without loss of life,” he said.

He said two of the victims, who sustained bullet wounds from the exchange of gunfire between the vigilante and kidnappers, are now receiving treatment in one of the government hospitals.

When contacted, the police spokesman in the state, DSP Chidi Nwanbuzor, said he could not respond as he was busy and asked the reporter to call back in the evening.