By Sani Yarima
The Taraba State Command of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) on Friday rescued three kidnapped victims in Sibre Mountain of Ardo Kola LGA of the state.
Speaking to journalists at the command’s headquarters in Jalingo, the State Deputy Commandant Operations, DC Munir Bello Abubakar, said the success was following tip-up information they received and acted promptly on the hours of Friday.
He mentioned that on reaching the kidnapper’s hideout, they immediately sighted the members of the VGN; they ran into the bush and left their belongings.
Abubakar explained that they were able to recover a magazine with eighteen live ammunition, foodstuffs, a chain, and a rope after exchanging fire with the kidnappers who are currently on large.
He also revealed that no casualty was recorded by the VGN members, adding that the kidnappers were not more than eight in number, and promised to continue searching for other criminals.
DC Operations, Munir Bello Abubakar highlighted the lack of mobility as a major challenge for the group and appealed to Governor Agbu Kefas to redouble his efforts in supporting them and provide them with operational vehicles and motorcycles to enhance their activities across the state.
Furthermore, Abubakar reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to continue supporting the security agencies in ensuring the protection of the lives and property of the citizens across the 16 LGAs of the state.
The victims who were rescued were Idris Adamu, Umaru Usmanu, and Ibrahim Usmanu, of the same family from Sibre, Fulani tribe.
Narrating their ordeals, the elder brother of the victims, Idris Adamu, said the kidnappers stormed their settlement on Thursday night and whisked them away to an unknown destination, where they chained them.
He explained that before they kidnapped them, they passed a message to their siblings that they should all gather and raise money, but they did not mention the amount, saying that as God intervened, the VGN members came to their rescue on Friday morning, 6th December 2024.
According to Idris Adamu, the kidnappers have already informed them of their plan to move them to another unidentified location in the evening time.
He mentioned that they denied them even water to drink since they took them away and expressed unlimited gratitude to the team of VGN led by the DC Operations, Munir Bello Abubakar, for rescuing their lives and urged the state government to support them more.
It is worth noting that on Wednesday 4/12/2024, the Taraba State Commissioner of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Hon. Emmanuel George visited the VGN Command in Jalingo, and presented two awards for their contribution to security and peaceful co-existence across the state.
