Five suspected kidnappers were burnt to death by angry youths along the Afuze-Uokha road in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State at the weekend.
According to the source, the suspected kidnappers were armed with assorted guns, attacked and abducted some travellers who they took into the bush.
However, the local vigilante group got the news of the incident, mobilised and ambushed the suspects in the bush.
It was learnt that the locals, who had been angered by the increasing kidnapping in the area, forcefully took the suspects from the vigilantes as they were taking them to the police station, and burnt them.
“The kidnappers would have been contacting the families of the abducted travellers to ask for ransom if not for the bravery of the vigilantes while locals who were fed up with the criminal activities of these kidnappers set them on fire and left to die,” a source told Tribune.
Spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command, Kontongs Bello, confirmed the incident, stating that investigation was ongoing.
“After the kidnap, the vigilantes went in search of the criminals who they apprehended in the bush. As they were coming out in Uokha Community on their way to the police station, angry youths in Uokha and adjoining towns took away the suspected kidnappers from the vigilantes. All efforts to get the suspects to the police proved abortive as they were burnt to death. The investigation is ongoing,” he added.
