No fewer than 15 farmers kidnapped in Mgbuji Eha-Amufu community in the Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State by gunmen, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, have regained their freedom.
A spokesman for the community, Chijioke Ogbodo, confirmed their release to our correspondent on the telephone on Tuesday.
While lamenting the constant attack on residents by gunmen he believed to be Fulani militias, Ogbodo said the bandits demanded N30m for the victims before their families raised N2m.
“After we pleaded with them because the security agencies abandoned us, they accepted to collect what we had. We thank God that no one was harmed,” he added.
In a related development, two kidnapped teenagers have been rescued by a combined team of policemen and vigilantes in a forest in the Alkaleri LGA of Bauchi State.
The Bauchi State Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
Wakil, a Superintendent of Police, said the team engaged the kidnappers in a “fierce gun duel” before rescuing the victims unhurt.
He added that four motorcycles were recovered from the kidnappers.
“They are Adamu Alhaji Usman, (19) and Sahura Alhaji Sunusi, female (17) of Garin Bakwai village via Maimadi ward. Four motorcycles were recovered from the kidnappers,” Wakil stated.
In similar vein, the Edo State Police Command rescued three abducted victims in the state.
The state Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Jennifer Iwegbu, said the victims were rescued in Akoko-Edo on Monday.
“Intensive bush combing yielded results as three of the kidnap victims: Alice Audu (70), Ruth Isiah (65) and Dejor Isiaka (50) were rescued unhurt and have since been reunited with their families. Efforts are ongoing to rescue other three, and also to neutralise or arrest the fleeing suspects,” Iwegbu added.
