Police in Nigeria have paraded four suspected kidnappers, including a “notorious” one called John Lyon, who we reported about earlier.
A spokesperson for the police told the BBC that Mr Lyon was tracked down after three alleged members of the same gang gave information about his whereabouts.
He was then traced to a central district of the capital Abuja where he was said to be living ”lavishly”.
Officers then transferred him to the southern state of Bayelsa where he allegedly committed the crimes.
The authorities said at least 10 kidnappings had been traced to the gang.
Police say the suspects usually targeted ”high-profile” individuals so that they could get ”huge ransoms”.
In one incident, they allegedly collected a ransom of 60m naira ($140,000; £130,000) from their victim – a senior bank executive.
In another kidnapping, they allegedly extorted more than $150,000.
The authorities say the suspects usually hid their weapons by a riverside outside the state capital – and picked them up whenever they planned a kidnapping.
Police say they hope the arrest of “the most notorious kidnapping gang in Bayelsa” will help bring peace to the area.
But more members of the gang remain at large. None of those arrested has commented.
Source: BBC