Thunder Kills 18 Kidnappers In Toungo, Adamawa Border Community 

BY AUSTIN AJAYI, YOLA – It turned out a day of relief for residents of Toungo, a border community and its environs in Adamawa state as thunder reportedly killed no fewer than 18 suspected Kidnappers in Toungo forest while sharing their loot.

An official of Toungo Local Government Council, who preferred anonymity, confirmed to Forefront that the local hunters could not retrieve the corpses as their death was linked to the wrath of the god of lightening.

A source told our correspondent that the bandits had gathered to share over N20 million collected from their wealthy victims at a remote village between Koncha in Cameroon and Toungo in Nigeria.

“Angered by the incessant attacks by the kidnappers, some community leaders and victims had consulted a native doctor to send thunder after the bandits. It was while sharing the proceeds of their crimes that they met their waterloo,” the source disclosed.

The source added that local hunters could not retrieve their corpses, money in bags, and their sophisticated weapons for fear of being struck by the god of thunder.

The source who identified himself as Doabu said soldiers have been dispatched to the forest. Residents of the border community, the source added, are presently experiencing respite from the activities of abductors.

“Trust this Chamba native doctor. Now is the time for people to start looking for an alternative in tackling the menace of these bandits, instead of relying on security agencies that are overstretched. With this thunder strike, our people will have cause to sleep with their eyes closed.”

Efforts to get the council’s chairman to comment on this development proved abortive, while the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) said he was not permitted to speak to the press on the matter.

When contacted on Friday, the spokesman for the Adamawa State Police Command, DSP Suleiman Yahya Nguroje, confirmed the incident, though he said the incident took place in a Cameroonian territory.

“Yes, we have heard of the incident. We were told that victims of the kidnappers engaged the services of a local native doctor. But it was said to have occurred in the neighboring Cameroon’s territory which is not under our jurisdiction. So, there is nothing the Divisional Police Officer can do about it”, said Nguroje.

He disclosed that the Adamawa State Police Command has directed DPOs and Area Commanders in Toungo, Ganye, Jada and Mayo Belwa to engage the services of local vigilante to tackle the menace of cross-border banditry plaguing the area.