A local vigilante group in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, on Saturday, rescued five kidnapped victims from Egoro Na Oka community, who were abducted on their way from a burial ceremony.
The victims were returning to Ekpoma town, when their vehicle was accosted by five armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.
According to one of the victims, “There were sporadic shootings by the armed men, who ordered us out of the car and marched us into the bush.
“As soon as they marched us into the bush, immediately they collected our phones and ordered us into a forest and abandoned our vehicle on the highway.”
It was gathered that when information reached the village vigilante, they quickly mobilised and combed the forest between Egoro NaOka, Urohi, Opoji, Ebudin and Ekpoma and we were rescued.
Anuge Henry, one of the vigilante members said, “The operation took the whole night as we combed the forest. After much effort, the five victims were rescued by our men; though two of the victims sustained bullet wounds from the exchange of gunfire between the vigilante and the kidnappers and they are now receiving treatment in one of the government hospitals.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, could not be reached as several calls and a text message sent to his phone by our reporter remain unanswered as at the time of filing in the report.
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