Kogi Vigilante Service Arrests 24-Year-Old Over Alleged Kidnapping Syndicate Links
Muhammad Babuga was arrested in a border community between Kogi and Enugu states after intelligence reportedly linked him to a kidnapping gang. A previously released victim also allegedly identified him.
The Kogi State Vigilante Service (KSVS) has arrested a 24-year-old man, Muhammad Babuga, over his alleged involvement in a kidnapping syndicate operating around the boundary between Kogi and Enugu states.
Babuga was arrested at Igabada, a border community between the two states, at about 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
The service’s spokesperson, Idris S. Idris, disclosed the development in a statement, saying operatives of the Igalamela Command carried out the arrest following credible intelligence.
Released Kidnap Victim Identifies Suspect
According to the statement, the suspect allegedly confessed to being a member of a criminal gang involved in kidnapping.
The service also said a victim who had previously been released by the gang after a ransom payment identified Babuga as one of those allegedly involved in the crime.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged kidnapping and the amount paid as ransom were not disclosed.
The suspect’s arrest is part of efforts by security operatives to track down individuals suspected of participating in kidnapping activities around the Kogi-Enugu border.
Vigilante Service Commends Operatives
The Comptroller-General of the Kogi State Vigilante Service, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Anataku, commended the operatives involved in the arrest and urged them to sustain their efforts against criminal activities.
Anataku also acknowledged the support of Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, saying it had helped boost personnel morale and improve the service’s operational effectiveness.
Residents Urged to Provide Security Information
The comptroller-general called on residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing timely and credible information that could assist in preventing crimes and apprehending suspected offenders.
He stressed that community cooperation remained important to strengthening security and protecting lives and property across the state.
The Kogi State Vigilante Service reiterated its commitment to working with other security agencies to tackle kidnapping and related criminal activities.
