By Musa Tanimu Nasidi
Kogi state branch of the Hunters Group of Nigeria, (KSHGN), have arrested two kidnappers operating along Lokoja- Okene highway on Thursday morning.
The kidnappers who were planning to attack passangers along the Lokoja-Okene road, met their waterloo when two of them were arrested .
The KSHGN state Commander, Bature Inusa, led the hunters to the hideout of the kidnappers following intelligent reports.
The hunters on patrol at about 4.30 am apprehended their informant, one Dan Fulani, at Kabba junction.
After interrogation, he confessed to given information to the kidnappers for their operations.
Inusa led the hunters to the kidnappers hideouts where one Sulaiman Naru, was arrested.
According to the leader of the hunters, “when we interrogated this suspect he told us that they all live in Kabba Junction and that they kidnapped a woman who they collected the sum of five million naira as ransom before she was released.
“He told us that only one hundred and twenty thousand naira was given to him by their leader who according to him travelled to Kaduna to purchase more arms.
Inusa said nine kidnappers invaded the community and abducted three persons including a former Okene chairman’s wife.
The commander confirmed the arrest of one kidnapper and an informant.
The commander who said the suspects would soon be handed over to the police explained that his men were on the trail of the remaining kidnappers.
He said “these kidnappers have been terrorising many communities along Lokoja-Okene road. They were nine in number. We caught one of them and one of their informants ,while the remaining ones were at large . We are chasing the rest. We have deployed more hunters to their hideouts.”
“Hunters know the nooks and crannies of that forest because we have been chasing animals there in the dead of night even when we were children.
“These kidnappers cannot hide like the fast animals that we chase and kill in that forest. We shall rescue the victims alive”, he added.
Inusa then appealed to the state government to provide the group with logistics such as patrol vehicles, office accomodation, communication gadgets and remuneration for members.
A community leader in Crusher Village, Baba Sarkin Baka, while commending the hunters for the feat said hunters know the terrain in every community and possess native intelligence and traditional tools to accomplish their mission.
He lauded the police for cooperating with the hunters in ensuring security of lives and property in the state, particularly in the far remote localities.
He said the Community Police Initiative is working and must be sustained.
Items recovered include, locally made one Ak47, 3 pistols, bullets and ten raps of weeds suspected to be cannabis.
As at the time of filing this report, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Williams Aya, could not be reached for official comments.
