Three young men have been kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be herders in Ajalli River in the Ezeagu local government area of Enugu state.

The men, who hail from the Akama Oghe community in the area, were said to have gone to the river to perform some sacrifice when the gunmen swooped on them.

It was gathered however that the incident which happened on Saturday, saw one of the victims escaping from captivity in the wee hours of Sunday morning, while the rest were rescued late Sunday night.

A community leader who confirmed the development to our correspondent in Enugu said it was because of the escape that the rest were rescued.

He said: “We got the information Sunday morning after the man escaped from the den of kidnappers. Thankfully, he ran into some operatives of the Forest Guard, who ensured the rest of the victims were freed that same Sunday. And they were eventually rescued close to the RCC office along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.

“They had gone to Ajalli to perform the sacrifice. It is what our people do. But, what they never envisaged was that the criminals were lurking around in the forest. So, they kidnapped them and matched them into the forest from where the other person escaped. We thank God for their safety. We thank our security men. They are doing well. Without them, police cannot operate successfully in this state.”

In a viral video shared by vigilante operatives in the area, an escaped victim, who identified himself as Chiemelie, said they were leaving the river after performing their sacrifice when they were accosted and their motorbike was taken away from them by the gunmen.

He stated: “They are Fulani people. But they were mixing their Fulani with the Hausa language. They marched us across the river and further into the forest, swinging their AK-47 rifles.

“But, I had to escape when they asked us to lie down for two hours. Two of them chased me but I continued and jumped into the muddy river. I stayed there inside the river for as long as I could until the gunmen turned back. I believe it was God that saved me.”

Meanwhile, police operatives of Enugu State Command, serving in Hawk Tactical Squad, have rescued travellers who were kidnapped along Ette Road in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, en route to Abuja.

Reports had it that between Thursday and Friday penultimate week, some commercial buses travelling to and from Abuja were abducted and taken hostage by suspected kidnappers.

The operatives also on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at about 10 a.m., swiftly responded to credible information and rescued four kidnapped victims (three males and one female) in a forest at Agbogazi-Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area, barely one hour after their kidnap.

According to the spokesman of the Enugu State police command, Daniel Ndukwe, the hoodlums, upon sighting the Operatives, opened fire on them, but the gallant and tactful Operatives returned fire, neutralizing one of the hoodlums, forcing others to escape with fatal gunshot wounds.

He noted that an AK-47 rifle loaded with nineteen (19) rounds of live ammunition was recovered from them, while further manhunt operations to fish out the fleeing suspects were ongoing.

He said, the commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, while reiterating the avowed commitment of the police to deal ruthlessly with unrepentant violent criminals and their activities in Enugu State, commended the gallant efforts of the operatives, charging them to ensure that the fleeing miscreants are fished out, dead or alive.

The CP, therefore, entreated citizens of the state to remain law-abiding, vigilant, and supportive, and report individuals sighted with gunshot wounds to the nearest Police Station. (The Nation)

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