Local vigilantes and hunters have reportedly arrested two suspected members of a four-man kidnapping gang allegedly operating around communities along the Kogi-Enugu border.
The suspects, identified as Salisu Ladan and Sumaila Abuh, were reportedly arrested in Egabada Forest after vigilantes and hunters acted on intelligence concerning the activities of the suspected gang.
According to a community source, the suspects were allegedly apprehended while sharing ransom collected from a kidnapping victim.
The operation was reportedly coordinated by the Senior Special Assistant to the Kogi State Governor on Zonal Security for Idah Federal Constituency.
Two other alleged members of the group, identified as Babunga and Zafari, reportedly escaped during the operation.
The source alleged that the four-man group had been operating in the Egabada and Odolu forest areas and had terrorised residents and travellers along the route linking parts of Kogi State with Enugu State.
“They successfully received ransom and released the victims. But luck ran against them while they were sharing the proceeds in Egabada forest, local vigilantes and hunters invaded their hideout and arrested two members,” the source said.
The arrested suspects were reportedly handed over to the authorities and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the two fleeing suspects.
In a video clip circulated after the arrests, one of the suspects, Ladan, allegedly confessed to participating in a kidnapping operation and claimed that the group collected ₦200,000 ransom from a victim reportedly abducted during the weekend.
Ladan also claimed that he participated in the operation with a cutlass rather than a firearm.
However, the Kogi State Police Command had not officially confirmed the arrests or the allegations at the time of filing the report.
Efforts to obtain the police command’s position through its spokesperson, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, were unsuccessful as of press time.
Further developments are expected as investigations continue and authorities work to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged kidnapping operations.
By Enitan Mudashiru | MUK TV News
