A member of the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC), Yusuf Kazim, has reportedly escaped from kidnappers after a dramatic confrontation in which he disarmed his captors and freed two other victims.
The incident occurred in the Edo North Senatorial District, where Kazim was ambushed by gunmen while driving into his residence in Aya-Iyamo, Etsako West Local Government Area. He was forcibly taken at gunpoint into a nearby forest.
According to a source who spoke with PUNCH Online on Friday, Kazim encountered two other abductees in captivity—25-year-old Caleb Yusuf and Himach Suleiman who had been held after their families were unable to meet ransom demands.
In a bold move, Kazim reportedly engaged the kidnappers in a fierce struggle, successfully disarming them of an AK-47 rifle. The attackers fled the scene, abandoning their weapon as the ESSC operative escaped with the two victims.
Despite sustaining serious injuries during the encounter, Kazim managed to secure his freedom and that of the others.
Confirming the development, ESSC Deputy Corps Commander Richard Balogun praised Kazim’s courage and resilience. He disclosed that the operative is currently in critical condition and receiving treatment at a hospital.
Balogun added that the case has been handed over to the police for further investigation, with efforts ongoing to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.
Credit: Punch