Police rescue female hostage, seven shot dead

Seven armed kidnappers have been shot dead and one hostage rescued in a dawn police operation in Haiyafuli village, Western province.

The event took place at the Bedamuni rural area near Mogulu in the Middle Fly District, over the weekend following the kidnapping of two women.

This was revealed by the Border Commander Acting Commissioner of Police Steven Francis when contacted by NBC News.

ACP Francis said North Fly police moved in at 6:30am on Saturday after tracking an armed group that had demanded K150,000 ransom for two women that were abducted from Fuma village.

"Police were inserted at Uruamabi on Saturday 5th September. From there they walked all the way to Fuma village and than walk up to Haiyafuli where the gang group were in the early hours of the morning. Upon seeing the police the gang gun fire to police and they exchange fire," he said.

Francis said the group originally had 11 members. Three others left for Komo the previous day and remain at large whilst the other eight where with the victims at Haiyafuli Village.

He said police held surveillance through the night and moved in when one hostage managed to create distance between herself and the captors.

From the eight, one was shot and killed on the spot during the police shootout. Six others were shot and later died after falling off from a cliff while trying to escape. Another suspect escaped unharmed.

ACP Francis confirmed that one hostage escaped during the exchange of gunfire and has since been reunited with her family.

Sadly, the second hostage was still inside the house when police entered. ACP Francis said she was attacked and killed by one of the kidnappers before she could be rescued.

Following the operation, police recovered three homemade shotguns and two rounds of ammunition from the scene.