At least two suspected kidnappers have been confirmed dead during an open fire exchange between the Kwara State Police Command and the abductors of a mother, Afusat Lawal, and her son, Taofeek.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the victims abducted on 13 September 2022 were rescued by the Kwara State Police Command with support from vigilantes and hunters.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Okasanmi Ajayi, disclosed this in a released statement on Wednesday in Ilorin.

“On Sept. 13, at about 11:20 p.m., a kidnap occurred in Shao, where one Afusat Lawal and her son, Taofeek Lawal were abducted and carried away,” he stated.

Ajayi in the statement disclosed that the kidnappers were accosted in the bush while sharing the ransom collected from the family of the victims, revealing that the kidnappers opened fire on the operatives immediately they were sighted.

During weaponry exchange of fire, the two kidnappers suffered gunshot injuries and were arrested and taken to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, where they were confirmed dead.

“Consequently, their corpses were deposited in the hospital mortuary for autopsy,” he said.

He said that exhibits recovered from the kidnappers were one Honda Accord Saloon Car with registration number, LAGOS GJ 52 LSR, one single barrel gun and an unspecified amount of money.

He, however, said that effort had been intensified to get other fleeing members of the gang arrested for prosecution.

Ajayi confirmed that the rescued victims had reunited with their families.