Hunters, vigilantes arrest kidnap suspect, recover N945, 000 in Borno
By Njadvara MUSA, Maiduguri
The Northeast Chairman and Commander of Borno hunters and vigilantes, Mohammed Yohanna has arrested a suspect for alleged kidnapping in the state’s axis of Gorgor/Liya Council of Hawul.
The suspect, whose identity was withheld, has been handed over to the police along, with the recovered AK-47 rifle and N945, 000 to the Divisional Police Officer in Azare.
Confirming the incident, at the weekend (Saturday), in Maiduguri in a telephone interview, Yohanna disclosed that; “Our team of hunters clashed with a gang of suspected kidnappers in Gorgor and Liya communities,” stating that this led to the arrest of kidnappers’ kingpin.
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He added that an AK-47 rifle and N945, 000 were also recovered from the suspect before handing him to the police for prosecution.
According to him, the team of hunters recently arrested some suspected Boko Haram suppliers with the recovery of N6, 050 in one of the villages.
He said that the suspects had also been handed over to the 231 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Biu for further actions.
On the arrested suspect, Yohanna said; ”The kidnappers descended on a Fulani settlement around Gorgor/Liya communities and asked for their leader, an Ardo.
“Unfortunately, when the suspects discovered that Ardo was nowhere to be found,” disclosing that the legs of Ardo’s son were fractured, before collecting N1 million from him.
Thereafter, the hunters received a distress call that some kidnappers have attacked the Fulanis in the axis.
Continuing; “I quickly mobilized a team of hunters to the area to rescue the families of the Fulani Ardo.
“On reaching the settlement, we clashed with the kidnappers on Wednesday at 3am.
“This led to an exchange of gunfire that overwhelmed the kidnappers, before arresting their leader.”
He, lauded the security agencies and the Borno state government, as well as the Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Maj-Gen. Christopher Musa for their continuous support and commitments in counter-terrorism operations.
