Police in Anambra State have rescued four children from same parents kidnapped by Fulani herdsmen in Achalla Village, Enugwu Agidi in Njikoka Local Government Area of the State.
The police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga who confirmed this in a statement, said the rescue operation followed a distress call by the mother of the victims, reports The Nation.
He said the abductors took advantage of the absence of the parents to kidnap the children between ages of 13 and 21 who were fast asleep around 10pm.
He said the victims had been reunited with their parents while efforts were on to apprehend the abductors.
He said, “On 15th December, 2023 at about 2300 the Police at Abagana received information via Police hot line that suspected herdsmen had abducted four children from a family at Achalla Village, Enugwu Agidi in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.
“The caller, who is mother of the children, disclosed that the family was watching Television at about 2200 hrs (10p.m.) when the light suddenly went out.
“The man of the house went out to find out what was amiss and the wife followed him. They observed three gunmen suspected to be herdsmen and fled for dear lives.
“By the time they summoned courage to return to the house they discovered that their four children who were already asleep had been abducted by the gunmen.
“Immediately the Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye received the report, he ordered immediate mobilisation of police personnel and vigilante to go after the kidnappers with a view to rescuing the children.
“In the early hours of today Saturday, 16th December, 2023 the four children aged 13, 14, 21 and 21 years were rescued close to Urum, 25 kilometres away from their home in Achala village, Enugwu-Agidi.
“The children have been reunited with their parents while the dragnet for the armed herdsmen is being extended to neighbouring communities.”
“The Commissioner of Police has issued a stern warning to those engaged in kidnapping their fellow humans for money that when caught, they will be treated worse than armed robbers.
“Meanwhile security has been beefed up in the area to forestall a recurrence.”
