A kidnapper was killed during a gun duel between his gang and a team of the police and vigilantes in the Ukya Forest in Kuje Area Council of the FCT.
A vigilante who was part of the operation but preferred anonymity, said the incident happened on Wednesday around 6pm close to Nasarawa State.
He explained that they trailed the kidnappers to their hideout after a timber operator who was in the forest sighted the kidnappers and alerted the security team.
He said, “Upon sighting the vigilantes and the police, the kidnappers started shooting, and we replied and killed one of them and rescued 14 abducted victims.”
A chief in one of the communities in Kuje, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the rescue, saying, “In fact, five Fulani who were among the rescued victims were abducted in their camp in Monu village, while four others were abducted from Gumanyi village.”
Reacting to the development, the spokeswoman of the FCT Police Command, SP Adeh Josephine, in a statement, said, “The kidnappers upon sighting the police operatives, opened fire on the police operatives which resulted in gun duel. The police operatives neutralised one of the kidnappers as the rest scampered with bullet wounds.”
She added that the hostages who were rescued unhurt had since been reunited with their loved ones.
