Commuters who were abducted on Tuesday by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Ikom-Ogoja highway in Cross River State, have been rescued by security operatives.
According to reports by Cross River Broadcasting Corporation radio on Wednesday afternoon, security operatives stormed the forest where the kidnapped travellers were kept overnight by their abductors, and were able to successfully rescue eight out of the nine victims.
Details of the rescue mission were still sketchy as of the time of going to press.
Reports said that the Commissioner of Police in Cross River, Sule Balarabe, earlier on Wednesday confirmed the abduction of some commuters plying the Ikom-Ogoja highway on Tuesday, but said the number of victims had not been ascertained.
According to him, a tactical team, including members of the police anti-kidnap squad had been deployed in the area to ensure the safety of those plying same route.
In a viral video, a witness explained that about nine persons were abducted by armed Fulani herdsmen between Okomita and Uyangha communities near Calabar.
He explained that the abductors emerged from the forest in the area and shot at vehicles to force them to stop.
He added that some of the passengers sustained gunshot wounds before the gunmen moved others into the forest.
The rescue of the eight if the victims had yet to be officially confirmed by the Police authorities in the state.
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