A gang of suspected kidnappers were chased away by youths of Maihula Village in Bali local government area of Taraba State when they attempted to abduct a young businessman Alhaji Bala Maimai.

The gang numbering about 10 entered the village at about 3:30am on Sunday and made straight to the resident of the businessman.

A witness who spoke on the condition of anonymity told Daily Trust said after the suspected kidnappers forced their way into the resident of Alhaji Maimai, they started firing gun shots sporadically and this awakened the residents in the neighbourhood.

Daily Trust correspondent reports that four persons had been abducted in similar fashion from the community in the last months.

The villagers reportedly came out in their numbers on Sunday night to confront the gunmen.

The initial target of the kidnappers Alhaji Maimai escaped by jumping through the fence in his house while the youths in the village engaged the gunmen for some 40 minutes, forcing them to flee.

The spokesman of the Taraba police command DSP Kwaji was not immediately available for comment.

Mutum Biyu, Maihula Tella and Dananacha towns in Gassol and Bali local government areas, which are the main business hubs in the state, have been under constant harassment by kidnappers who often demand for ransom before freeing their victims.

•Illustration courtesy of Daily Trust.