Three Fulani herdsmen, suspected to be kidnappers, were on Sunday apprehended at Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The kidnappers, who were suspected to be among the gang who have been unleashing terror on residents of the state, were caught within the forest of Irese community in the local government area by local vigilantes.
A resident of the community, Kunle Idowu disclosed to DAILY POST that the suspected kidnappers who are of the Fulani extraction, were nabbed with the aide of vigilantes who stormed the forest following information on their presence within the axis.
According to Idowu, the suspected kidnappers were matched to the palace of community’s monarch after the successful raid, adding that a gun and live bullets were found in their possession.
“They (Fulani herdsmen) were arrested by vigilantes in our community after it was confirmed that they have a camp in the forest.
“But we learnt that the leader of the gang escaped, but with the arrest of these ones, it is a good signal sent that our farms and forests won’t be allowed for their criminal act.
“At the palace of Olurese, where they were taken to after their arrests, they confessed to being kidnappers,” he said.
Confirming the arrest, the Olurese of Irese, Babatunde Falegan stated that the suspects were brought into his palace where they confessed to being part of a kidnap-gang.
“The three kidnappers were brought to my palace by the vigilante groups after they were apprehended during a search in the forest.
“During interrogation, three of them confessed that they belonged to the gang of kidnappers operating inside the bushes of the state.
“They revealed that they have carry out series of kidnap cases mostly in this Ifedore Local Government Area of the state and other parts.
“These herdsmen have scattered in the bushes of the state and they are using the forest for their hideouts.
“We have handed the three of them to the military men for investigation and I still want to urge our people to be security conscious,” Falegan said.
Brig.General Zakari Logun Abubakar the Commander of the 32 Artillery Brigade also confirmed the arrest of the three suspects kidnappers.
Mr Abubakar disclosed that the Anti Kidnapping Squad of the Army base had already handed over the three suspects to the DSS.
