From John Adams, Minna
No fewer than 29 villagers abducted from Kuchi in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State on Thursday night have been rescued unhurt by men of the special force code-named Special Hunters assisted by local vigilantes.
They were rescued after two hours of a gun battle between the bandits and the special hunters at the bank of River Shiroro where the bandits were stranded with their victims following the heavy downpour that forced the water level to rise.
About 50 villagers were abducted at 1:00 am on Thursday when the gunmen invaded the community. They moved from house to house picking their victims who they matched into the bush. The majority of those kidnapped were women and children.
Although 50 people were initially abducted, 20 men escaped midway into the journey while 22 others made up of women and children were taken away by their captors. They later got stranded at the river bank because they could not cross the river. However, men of the special hunters stationed at Galkogo in Shiroro Local Government Area, assisted by the local vigilantes from Sarkin Pawa – 100 in number – swung into action and went after the bandits.
According to a source close to Kuchi community, the special hunters divided themselves into two groups: while one group attacked the bandits from Galkogo, another group comprising the vigilantes invaded the bush from Sarkin Pawa end.
The gunmen were said to have abandoned their victims when they realised that they were being attacked from different directions. It was gathered that in the ensuing battle at Galkogo end, scores of the gunmen were neutralised while no casualty was recorded by the special hunters.
All the 29 victims, including four other captives that were in the custody of the gunmen, were rescued and got reunited with their families in Kuchi.
A resident of the community, Mallam Mohammed Kuchi, who spoke to Sunday Sun expressed appreciation and gratitude to the men of the special hunters and the local vigilantes for their efforts in rescuing the victims. He urged the government to support them in their fight against the “enemies of the people.”