Police Rescue 7 Kidnap Victims, Arrest 12 Suspects In Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Police Command said it has arrested 12 suspects and rescued seven kidnapped victims in operations carried out within the state.

The operatives also recovered five firearms, and seized ₦200,000 allegedly offered as a bribe.

Briefing journalists in Lafia, the Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, said the successes were achieved through intelligence-driven operations and collaboration with local communities and sister security agencies.

He said one of the major operations followed the abduction of a 43-year-old man, Shuaibu Umoru, in Giza town.

“On 2nd January, 2026, at about 12 midnight Information was received that suspected kidnappers invaded the residence of one Shuaibu Umoru (not real name), aged 43, of Giza town and abducted him to an unknown destination.”

According to the CP, a manhunt was immediately ordered, which later yielded results.

“Following this, I immediately ordered a manhunt for the assailants. Subsequently, on 11th January, 2026, at about | :30pm information was received that an individual was sighted tied to a tree in a forest at Sabon Gida-Abuni area of Awe LGA.”

He said police operatives from Awe Division, in collaboration with local hunters, were deployed to the area.

“‎Police operatives attached to Awe Division, in collaboration with local hunters, were mobilized to the scene. Upon sighting the operatives, the hoodlums opened fire, but the operatives responded with superior firepower, leading to the neutralization of one of the suspects and the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, one magazine, and two rounds of 7.62x39mm live ammunition.”

The CP added that the victim was rescued, debriefed, and reunited with his family.

In a related development, the command also arrested two suspects at a snap checkpoint along the Nasarawa Eggon to Mada Station Road.

He said Musa Ahmed, 29, of Nunku Village in Akwanga LGA, and Adamu Yusuf, 28, of Basa Village in Kokona LGA, were intercepted while riding on a motorcycle and attempted to bribe police officers with ₦200,000, which was rejected and recovered as an exhibit.

“‎Based on credible intelligence, the duo of Musa Ahmed (29 years) of Nunku Village, Akwanga LGA, and Adamu Yusuf (28 years) of Basa Village, Kokona LGA, who were riding on a Daylong motorcycle, were intercepted and arrested. The suspects attempted to bribe the operatives with the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Naira which was rejected and recovered as an exhibit.”

The police commissioner said preliminary investigations linked the suspects to an earlier kidnapping in Arusu Village, Kokona LGA.

‎“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects had earlier kidnapped a person at Arusu Village of Kokona LGA, where the Police engaged them and rescued the victim, while the suspects escaped with bullet wounds. Upon their arrest, one of them was found to still be nursing a gunshot injury.”

CP Shetima also disclosed that a joint operation between the Nasarawa State Police Command and the Federal Capital Territory Police Command led to the rescue of four children abducted on 31 December 2025 at New Nyanya in Karu LGA.

He said the children were recovered unhurt from a hideout, while two suspects – Abraham Asoje, 28, and Joy Bolaje, 29 – were identified as those behind the abduction.

“‎The rescue followed a report received on 31st December, 2025, at New Nyanya Division, Karu Local Government Area, regarding the mysterious disappearance of the children under suspicious circumstances.”

“Upon receipt of the report, the Command immediately launched a thorough investigation. Acting on credible intelligence, detectives of the Command, in collaboration with operatives of the FCT Police Command traced the suspects’ hideout where the children were safely recovered unhurt.”

The CP further revealed that two high-profile suspects, Kabiru Isah and Monday Bulus, who had been on the command’s wanted list for involvement in several armed robbery incidents across the state, were arrested on 10 January 2026.

“‎On 10th January, 2026, at about 2200hrs, acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Robbery Section arrested two notorious armed robbery suspects, Kabiru Isah and Monday Bulus, who had been on the
‎Command’s wanted list for their involvement in several robbery operations across the State.”

‎“During the operation, one G3 rifle without serial number was recovered. A follow-up operation on 11th January, 2026, also led to the recovery of one pump-action rifle.”

CP Shetima commended the role of community policing and inter-agency collaboration in the successes recorded, urging residents to continue to support the police with timely information.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nasarawa State Police Command to maintaining peace and security across the state.(daily trust)