Three suspected one-chance kidnappers were on Monday morning killed by a mob at the Dutse Alhaji area of the nation’s capital, Abuja.
The one-chance suspects – all male – had abducted their female victim in a manner that is commonly referred to as “one-chance”, a method of using taxis to kidnap and rob unsuspecting passengers.
While the victim was rushed to the Kubwa General hospital, personnel of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services DRTS at the scene Mr. Aminu Umar said the incident happened at about 8am when a lady inside moving vehicle was heard screaming for help.
“The lady was suddenly pushed out of the vehicle while screaming. A motorist, who saw what had happened, pulled over in front of the vehicle and blocked it under the Dutse Bridge. From there, Okada riders (motorcyclists) surrounded the vehicle and told them to come out,” he said.
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“They asked them if the vehicle was one chance (kidnappers) and the next thing, they started beating them and eventually put fire on them and the vehicle”.
Route Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps FRSC in the area, Sylvanus Ekpenyong said his men were alerted of the event by some people while on duty at Dutse.
“We were at Dutse Junction and we got information that there was traffic building up before the Dutse Bridge because a vehicle was on fire. We rushed down there to clear the road only to see three dead burnt bodies and a burnt vehicle.
“When we made inquiries from eye witnesses, they said it was one chance (kidnappers). So, we are here to ensure free traffic flow of vehicles but we don’t know the exact group of people who burnt them,” he said.
An eye witness who is also a motorcyclist, Aliyu Mohammed said that angry motorcyclists attacked and burnt the suspects because it was obvious they were kidnappers as described by the victim.
Mohammed said that it was the normal tactics of kidnappers operating in Abuja to push victims out of their moving vehicle after carrying out their illegal act.
He, however, said that the incident of today would serve as a warning to all those involved in such activities within the territory.
While security agents were on ground to ensure the bodies of the suspects were evacuated to the morgue and also ensure peace and free flow of vehicles in the area, some young men were seen dismantling the burnt vehicle, ostensibly to sell the parts to collectors of used items.
