A member of a suspected kidnapping syndicate yesterday met his waterloo, as he was killed by a vigilante group and hunters in Akunu Akoko in the Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The Hope Metro reliably gathered that one of the kidnappers was killed during a gun duel between his gang and the vigilantes assisted by the hunters, who pursued them in to the forest after they have abducted some passengers travelling to the Northern part of the country.
Meanwhile, the seven victims abducted by the gunmen have been rescued.
The kidnappers had reportedly abducted the seven travellers on Saturday while travelling to Abuja and marched them into the forest in the area
It was learnt that the gunmen stopped the victims’ vehicle along a boundary community between Ondo and Edo States.
According to a source, the people of Akunu Akoko noticed the empty vehicle and suspected the occupants of the vehicle had been abducted.
He said the incident was reported to the Regent of the town, Princess Tolani Orogun, who immediately ordered the local hunters and vigilante to comb the entire forest and secure the release of the kidnapped victims.
The exercise, he said yielded positive result, as the kidnappers were rounded up in their den, leading to exchange of gun fire between the criminals and the local hunters.
Reports had it that the hoodlums ran away, while one of them was shot dead.
Police Area Commander in charge of Ikare Akoko, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Razak Rauf, confirmed the incident
He said the remains of the kidnapper killed during gun duel had been deposited at the State General hospital morgue in Ikare Akoko.
The Police Chief also confirmed that the seven victims abducted have regained their freedom.
Contacted, the state Police spokesman, DSP Tee Leo-Ikoro, however said he was yet to receive report of the incident as at the time of filing this report.
Chairman of Akunu Akoko community, Mr. Ade Aboginije, called on the state government to increase security presence in the area being a boundary town between Edo and Ekiti States.