Four suspected kidnappers were on Thursday shot dead during an exchange of gunfire with vigilantes and hunters in the Yenche-Farakuti Forest in Kuje Area Council of the FCT.
City & Crime reports that Yenche community, which is two kilometres from neighbouring Farakuti, borders Kwali and Kuje area councils of the territory.
A hunter, who was part of the operation, said the incident happened around 11am when the vigilantes and the hunters were on a joint patrol between Yenche and Farakuti.
He explained that a farmer from one of the villages alerted the vigilantes and hunters who were from Sabo, Agwe, Kwaku and Yenche communities, and that they mobilised in their hundreds and stormed the kidnappers’ den.
He further said, “When the hunters and vigilantes arrived at the camp; some of them hid on trees while some vantage took positions and the rest opened fire on the kidnappers, who returned the fire, and in the process four of them were killed. Some of them fled with bullet wounds after they were overpowered.”
He added that at the time of the attack the kidnappers were charging their phones with solar power.
He said solar panels, cutlasses, mats, ropes and foodstuffs were recovered during the raid.
The FCT Police Commissioner, Benneth Igweh, confirmed the killing of the kidnappers in a telephone interview on Tuesday.
He said the operation was carried out by the joint taskforce, made up of police, anti -kidnap team, soldiers, hunters and vigilantes, saying the raid was carried out at a forest bordering Nasarawa State.
