Local vigilantes and hunters have arrested two suspected members of a four-man kidnapping gang operating in the boundary areas between Kogi and Enugu states. The arrest was made in Egabada forest, where the suspects were sharing ransom collected from a victim. The operation was reportedly coordinated by the SSA to the Kogi State Governor on Zonal Security, Idah Federal Constituency.
The arrested suspects, Salisu Ladan and Sumaila Abuh, were part of a gang that had been terrorizing residents and travelers along the route linking Kogi to Enugu State. According to a community source, the gang had taken over the forests of Egabada and Odolu, and had successfully received ransom and released their victims. However, their luck ran out when they were sharing the proceeds in Egabada forest.
The community source revealed that the vigilantes and hunters acted on a tip-off and stormed the gang's hideout, arresting Ladan and Abuh while they were counting the ransom. Two other members of the gang, identified as Babunga and Zafari, reportedly escaped during the operation. The arrested suspects have been handed over to the authorities for further investigation.
The two suspects confessed to the crime in a video clip, saying they received N200,000 ransom from a victim kidnapped at the weekend. Ladan, one of the arrested suspects, claimed that he came to Egabada community to look for a job and was a laborer from Lokoja. He also stated that he only kidnapped one person and carried a cutlass, not a gun, during the operation.
The suspects have been transferred to the State CID for further action. According to the community source, efforts are still ongoing to arrest the remaining members of the gang. The Kogi State Police Command was contacted via text message over the incident, but its spokesperson, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, did not respond as at the time of filing this report.
The arrest of the suspected kidnappers is a significant breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping in the region. The incident highlights the efforts of local vigilantes and hunters in tackling insecurity in their communities. The suspects' confession and video clip provide valuable evidence for further investigation and potential prosecution.
The case is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as the investigation continues. The community is relieved that the suspected kidnappers have been apprehended, and efforts are being made to bring the remaining members to justice.
Key points
- Two suspected kidnappers arrested in Kogi State while sharing N200,000 ransom.
- The suspects were part of a four-man gang that had been terrorizing residents and travelers in the region.
- Efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining members of the gang.
