A local vigilante group in the Egoro Na Oka community, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State overpowered some Fulani kidnappers in one of their forest hideouts in the state.
Five victims, who had attended an overnight burial ceremony in Egoro Na Oka but were abducted on their way back to Ekpoma, were also rescued.
It was gathered that their Toyota Camry car was blocked by five gun-wielding men suspected to be herdsmen.
One of the victims, whose name is Osemudiamen, said, “There was repeated shooting by the armed men, who ordered us out of the car and marched us into the bush.
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“After the shooting, the kidnappers collected our phones and ordered that we move ahead into the forest, while our vehicle was abandoned on the highway.”
But when information reached the village’s vigilante members, they quickly mobilised and cordoned off the forest between Egoro Na Oka, Urohi, Opoji, Ebudin and Ekpoma.
The leader of the vigilante team, Henry Anuge, said it took his men the entire night to comb the forest.
“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 them sustained bullet wounds during the exchange of gunfire between us and the kidnappers. They are now receiving treatment in one of the government hospitals,” he stated.