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By Iheanyi Chukwudi
Gunmen suspected to be herders, have abducted three young men at Ajalli River in Ezeagu local government of Enugu State.
The trio, who hail from Akama Oghe community in the same Council area, were allegedly in the river to perform some sacrifices when the gunmen swooped on them and abducted them.
However, one of victims escaped from captivity of the hoodlums in the wee hours of Sunday morning, necessitating the rescued late Sunday night of the rest two.
Confirming the incident to newsmen in Enugu, a community leader who pleaded anonymity said, "We got the information Sunday morning after the man escaped from the den of kidnappers.
Thankfully, he ran into some operatives of the Forest Guard, who ensured the rest of the victims were freed that same Sunday. And they were eventually rescued close to the RCC office along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.
"They had gone to Ajalli to perform sacrifice. It is what our people do. But, what they never envisaged was that the criminals were lurking around in the forest. So, they kidnapped them and marched them into the forest from where the other person escaped. We thank God for their safety. We thank our security men. They are doing well. Without them, police cannot operate successfully in this state."
The escaped victim, who identified himself as Chiemelie, said in a viral video shared by vigilante operatives in the area, that they were leaving the river after performing their sacrifice when they were accosted and their motorbike taken away from them by the gunmen.
He said "They are Fulani people. But they were mixing their Fulani with Hausa language. They marched us across the river and further into the forest, swinging their AK 47 rifles.
"But, I had to escape when they asked us to lie down for two hours. Two of them chased me but I continued and jumped into the muddy river. I stayed there inside the river for as long as I could until they gunmen turned back. I believe it was God that saved me."
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