Kogi vigilante service arrests man suspected of belonging to kidnapping syndicate

The Kogi State Vigilante Service (KSVS) has arrested a 24-year-old man suspected of belonging to a kidnapping syndicate operating around the boundary between Kogi and Enugu states.

The suspect, identified as Muhammad Babuga, was arrested at Igabada, a border community between the two states, at about 7 p.m. on Thursday.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the service’s spokesman, Idris S. Idris, said operatives of the Igalamela Command apprehended Babuga following credible intelligence.

He said the suspect allegedly confessed to being a member of a criminal gang involved in kidnapping.

According to the statement, Babuga was among those allegedly involved in the crime who had previously been released by the gang after a ransom was paid.

Reacting to the arrest, the Comptroller-General of the Kogi State Vigilante Service, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Anataku, commended the operatives for their commitment and effective security operations.

He urged them to sustain the momentum in the fight against criminal activities and reduce crime to the barest minimum.

Anataku also thanked Governor Ahmed Ododo for his continued support and encouragement, which he said had boosted personnel morale and improved the service’s operational effectiveness.

The comptroller-general called on residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely and credible information that could help prevent crime and apprehend suspected criminals.

He said public cooperation remained vital to strengthening security and ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state.

The Kogi State Vigilante Service reiterated its commitment to supporting other security agencies in tackling kidnapping and other criminal activities across the state.