There was a fatality among the hunters in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State as one of them was killed at Ufa area, in Igarra, the headquarters of the council, while in pursuit of kidnappers in the area.

The deceased, popularly known as Odonkoro in the locality, but whose real name was given as Suru Abanta, was reported shot dead by suspected kidnappers while he, his colleagues, and other members of the local vigilante group in Igarra were combing the large stretch of forest around Igarra and neighbouring communities for kidnapers and to rescue their victims.

It will be recalled that the resurgence of kidnapping in the area had been reported with the recent kidnapping of five people within two days along the farm road in Igarra. One of the kidnapped victims, it was gathered, was released after an undisclosed ransom was paid.

A member of the vigilante group, who witnessed the killing, while narrating the incident, said the incident happened on Tuesday while one of the kidnappers was arrested on Wednesday.

“We divided ourselves into two groups and went in different directions. But unknown to us, the kidnappers had sighted us. So, while we were trying to take a position, they shot him and they were trying to round us up but our colleagues, who heard the gunshot started running in our direction and that was how the kidnappers ran away in panic. We later got to their camp, where we saw some items including a phone without battery, sim card and other cooked and raw food,” the eyewitness narrated.

Speaking on the arrested suspect, the source said: “The man disguised as if he was waiting for a commercial vehicle along the Igarra – Ibillo road where he was caught and he has been handed over to the police.”

Reacting to the state of security, the Edo State Government said it was training members of the vigilante group to strengthen security in the state.

The Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr. Chris Osa Nehikhare, at a press conference on Wednesday, said “As we speak, the Edo State Government is training over 1,500 people for the vigilante assignment.

“A few weeks ago, we did six local government areas, and we did it at the Mobile Police Training School at Ogida Barracks which Edo State Government renovated and fixed with the same qualities as Edo State buildings. We are getting their biometrics, we are reconditioning them to think like law enforcement agencies and they are to protect the lives of Edo people, our state is more secured and these are being done by these men, they are part of the security arrangement and we are very proud of them because we want Edo to be one of the safest states in the country and we will continue to retrain these volunteers,” he said. (Nigerian Tribune)

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