Local vigilante members kill man while attempting to kidnap his son

By ONIMISI ALAO, Yola

Two members of a vigilante group in Adamawa State have allegedly turned kidnappers and gunned down a man in the course of trying to abduct the man’s son.

The suspects, Abdulrahaman Yakubu and Suleiman Lawan of Murke village in Song local government area, were arrested for allegedly killing the man who came upon the suspects while the suspects were making the kidnap attempt.

The suspects, who reside in a village near Gombedeked along Dumne road in Song LGA, were arrested by the Adamawa Police Command and are being investigated
Abdulrahaman, 30, and a father of five and Suleiman, 35, and a father of 10 children, allegedly went to the deceased home with three others who have gone on the run.

Our correspondent gathered on Sunday that the suspects stormed the home of their target and abducted his son.

They however met with opposition, first from a brother of their abductee who confronted them as they were dragging the boy out of the house.

A source close to the family said one and another of the suspects fired shots, which failed to penetrate the boy’s elder brother but that the father of the house who came out of his room on hearing the gunfire was felled by a stray bullet.

The man died on the spot but as the suspects made to leave with the boy that they had grabbed, neighbours who rose on hearing the gunshots went after the suspects and succeeded in rescuing the boy.

Other local vigilantes were said to have reacted the next day by following after the abductors to their various houses where they apprehended them.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Adamawa State, DSP Suleiman Nguroje, confirmed the suspects were in police custody. (The Nation)