From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Benue State Police Command has arrested an alleged wanted kidnap kingpin at Orokam in Ogbadibo Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The kidnap kingpin, identified as Yusuf Muhammed, was arrested alongside 21 other suspects over kidnap incidents in that part of the state.
Our correspondent gathered that the kidnapping ring leader was apprehended during a special operation after being trailed by operatives of the command for several days.
According to sources, the suspect, who is physically challenged and goes by the nickname “OC Torture” among his gang members, was identified by some of his victims, which helped the police to track him.
The manhunt for the gang of kidnappers terrorising that part of the state followed a sudden surge of kidnapping activities that led to the murder of a mother and her visiting son after a failed kidnap attempt by the gang, among several incidents.
The development, the source said, compelled the Chairman of Ogbadibo LGA, Sunday Ajunwa, to impose a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Orokam about two weeks ago following protests by residents over the troubling development.
“The Commissioner of Police deployed a tactical team, the Mobile Police Squad, alongside personnel of Civil Protection Guards who went in to comb Orokam and its environs. Their operation yielded the positive result we are celebrating today.
“It goes to show that with the cooperation of locals, the police and other security agencies can achieve set targets which would help check incidents of crime in society,” he said.
Confirming the development, the Chairman of Ogbadibo LGA, Mr Sunday Ajunwa, said, “It is true that Yusuf has been arrested by the combined team of police from Makurdi and Enugu as well as the vigilante in the area.
“He attempted to run, but the youths pursued and caught him. Those he kidnapped made confessional 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 stable, though the curfew from 6 pm to 6 am is still in force, but I am thinking of lifting it after meeting with security agencies and stakeholders.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Udeme Edet, said she has not been briefed on the development.
“I think the person in Orokam is supposed to send us that message for me to confirm anything. But I have not received that information yet,” she said.
