The Kogi State Vigilante Service has apprehended a 24-year-old man suspected of involvement in a kidnapping syndicate allegedly operating along the boundary between Kogi and Enugu states.
The suspect, identified as Muhammad Babuga, was arrested at Igabada, a border community linking the two states, at approximately 7 p.m. on Thursday.
The service’s spokesman, Idris S. Idris, disclosed the arrest in a statement released on Saturday, explaining that operatives attached to the Igalamela Command acted on credible intelligence to track down and apprehend the suspect. According to him, Babuga allegedly admitted to being a member of a criminal gang involved in kidnapping activities.
The statement further indicated that the suspect was allegedly among individuals previously held by the gang in connection with kidnapping incidents but later released after ransom payments were made. However, the service did not provide further details about the alleged incidents or the circumstances surrounding the earlier ransom payments.
Reacting to the development, the Comptroller-General of the Kogi State Vigilante Service, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Anataku, praised the operatives for their dedication and effectiveness in carrying out security operations. He urged personnel to maintain their efforts and intensify the fight against criminal activities, with the aim of reducing crime across the state to the barest minimum.
Anataku also expressed appreciation to Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo for his continued support and encouragement of the service. He noted that the governor’s backing had helped boost personnel morale and enhance the operational capacity of the vigilante outfit.
The comptroller-general called on members of the public to support security agencies by providing credible and timely information that could assist in preventing criminal activities and facilitating the arrest of suspected offenders. He stressed that active collaboration between residents and security operatives remained essential to protecting lives and property throughout the state.
The Kogi State Vigilante Service reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside other security agencies to combat kidnapping and other forms of criminality. The service also emphasised its resolve to sustain operations aimed at improving public safety and strengthening security across Kogi State.
