Five Kidnap Victims Rescued By Vigilance Group In Edo

Five kidnapped victims were on Saturday rescued by a local vigilance group at Egoro Na Oka Community, in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

The victims who attended an overnight burial in Egoro Na Oka were abducted on their way back to Ekpoma town.

It was gathered that their Toyota Camry car was blocked by about five gun-wielding men.

One of the victims, who gave his name as Osemudiamen for security reasons said “There was (indiscriminate) shooting by the armed men, who ordered us out of the car and marched us into the bush.

“After the shooting, the kidnappers immediately collected our phones and ordered that we move into the forest and abandoned our vehicle on the highway.”

It was gathered that when information reached the village vigilance group, they quickly mobilised and cordoned off the forest around Egoro NaOka, Urohi, Opoji, Ebudin and Ekpoma.

Leader of the vigilance men, Henry Anuge, said it took him and his men the whole 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 the victims sustained bullet wounds from the exchange of gunfire between us and the kidnappers. They are now receiving treatment in one of the government hospitals.”

Efforts to get a reaction from the police authority in Ekpoma, the administrative headquarters of Esan West Local Government Area, failed.