Kidnap Kingpin, 21 Others Arrested In Benue

A notorious kidnap kingpin identified as Yusuf Muhammed has been apprehended with 21 others in Orokam community, Ogbadibo local area of Benue State.

An online medium, The Network, reported yesterday that the council chairman, Mr. Sunday Ajunwa,  disclosed this to newsmen on phone in Makurdi yesterday.

Ajunwa told journalists that Yusuf and his gang members were responsible for several kidnappings in the area.

He said Yusuf was arrested by a combined team of the police from Makurdi and Enugu as well as the vigilante group.

According to him, Yusuf was identified by his victims whom he tortured severely in captivity and had attempted to flee into the bush but the youths chased and caught him.

“Those he kidnapped made statements of how he tortured them in captivity. He is now in police custody along with 21 others. Yusuf is a Fulani man.

“The security situation in Orokam is now stable though the curfew from 6pm to 6am is still enforced. But I am thinking of lifting it after meeting with security agencies and stakeholders,” Ajunwa said.

This development followed a recent surge in kidnapping and other forms of criminality in  Orokam axis which prompted the Ogbadibo local government chairman to meet with the Benue State commissioner of police and other security agencies.

Reports say residents of Orokam are celebrating the arrest, which they consider a significant breakthrough.  But victims have expressed anxiety over his arrest and called on the Inspector General of Police to look into this particular arrest with keen interest.

The Benue State command police public relations officer DSP Udeme Edet, when contacted, said she would gathered more information and get back to the press.