Abdulrahaman Yakubu, 30, father of five and Suleiman Lawan, 35, father of 10 children are members of a vigilante group in Song LGA, Adamawa, until they had an opportunity to get a ransom.
They seized it.
Backed up by three others, Abdulraham and Suleiman invaded the home of a neighbor, having profiled him. The quarry was the son of the homeowner.
According to reports, it was not a walkover when they attempted to snatch the boy.
His brother first resisted. And the five-man gang opened fire on him. Well, the bullets fell like water off duck, according to family sources.
And the scuffle continued.
But the father heard the gunshots, came out to investigate. A stray bullet then caught him. He died right off.
By now, the community was on the alert, hunters, others, and all.
The vigilante members turned kidnappers already got the boy, and they were on the run, the community on their heels.
In the chase, the mob gained on the fleeing criminals, and wrested the boy out of the bandits’ grip eventually.
The criminals, escaped too. And that should be all.
So Abdulrahaman and Suleiman went to their different houses. Like nothing happened, and nobody knew they were kidnappers.
Police said the other vigilante members mobilized, and went to the houses of Suleiman and Abdulraham.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Adamawa State, DSP Suleiman Nguroje, confirmed the suspects were later arrested. They were in police custody.
“They are being investigated and will be prosecuted according,” Nguroje said August 29.
As part of efforts to curb kidnapping, communities now volunteer as night watchmen and vigilante groups.
Now the volunteers have criminals among them.