Five suspected kidnappers set ablaze to death in Edo

Five suspected kidnappers have been reportedly burnt to death in the Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, during the weekend.

According to reports, the suspects were said to have abducted some travellers and took them to a forest in the area.

A source from the area ran against them when they were apprehended by vigilantes in the area who smoked them out of the forest.

“The kidnappers took the travellers into the bush not knowing that the vigilantes had got wind of the incident and mobilised to arrest 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,” the source said.

The spokesman of the Edo Police Command, Kontongs Bello confirmed the incident.

“After the kidnap, the vigilantes went in search of the criminals and apprehended them 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 the suspected kidnappers from the vigilantes.

“All efforts to get the suspects to the police station proved abortive as they were burnt to death. However, an investigation into the matter is ongoing,” he said.