Four kidnapped suspects were burnt to death in Dobeli village, Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State on Saturday.
The kidnapped suspects met their waterloo when a hunter from Dobeli village sighted a group of persons, numbering over 16, holding meeting in the bush close to Dobeli village at about 5:30 am.
According to an eye witness, the said hunter promptly informed the vigilantes in Dobeli and nearby Tella villages who mobilised themselves and went into the bush to confront the strangers.
Nigerian Pilot gathered that on getting to the bush, the vigilantes, who were armed with assorted weapons, tried to round up the kidnapped suspects.
However, it was learnt that during the scuffle the vigilantes were able to apprehend four of the kidnapped suspects while others fled into the bush.
It was gathered that upon interrogation the four suspects, three who were indigenes of Dobeli and one from nearby Isoll village, were said to have confessed to the vigilantes that they were kidnappers and were holding the meeting with in order to plan to kidnap two prominent persons in Tella and Dobeli villages.
The sources added that the vigilantes, who were about 20 in number, tired the four suspects and brought them to Dobeli village on their way to hand them over to the police in Tella village.
However, the eyewitness said that while escorting the suspects to the Tella Police Station, youths of Tella and Dobeli villages, numbering over 300 and armed with assorted weapons, mobilised themselves and overpowered the vigilantes and snatched the suspects from them.
He said that the irate youths promptly killed the four suspects, after which they doused their bodies with petrol and burnt them.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) to the Taraba Police Command, DSP David Misal confirmed the incident.
He said a team of armed policemen have been deployed to the area to maintain peace and order.
