The Nasarawa State Police Command has announced major security gains across the state, with the arrest of 12 suspected criminals and the rescue of seven abducted victims between January 1, 2026, and the present date.
The police also confirmed the recovery of firearms, ammunition, and other exhibits from various operations carried out across the 13 local government areas of the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Shetima Mohammed, made the disclosure on Friday during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Lafia. He outlined the achievements recorded by the command within the period under review.
According to the police chief, the arrests included 10 suspected kidnappers and two armed robbery suspects. He said operatives recovered five firearms, two magazines, two rounds of ammunition, one motorcycle, and the sum of ₦200,000, believed to be proceeds of criminal activity.
Providing details on the neutralisation of a suspected kidnapper in Awe Local Government Area, CP Mohammed explained that police received a distress report on January 2, 2026. The report stated that suspected kidnappers had stormed the residence of Shuaibu Umoru (not real name), a 43-year-old resident of Giza town, and abducted him to an unknown location.
Following the incident, the Commissioner said he ordered an immediate manhunt for the perpetrators.
“Subsequently, on January 11, 2026, at about 1:30 pm, information was received that an individual was sighted tied to a tree in a forest at Sabon Gida–Abuni area of Awe LGA. Police operatives attached to Awe Division, in collaboration with local hunters, were mobilised to the scene.
“Upon sighting the operatives, the hoodlums opened fire, but the operatives responded with superior firepower, leading to the neutralisation of one suspect and the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, one magazine, and two rounds of 7.62x39mm live ammunition,” he said.
CP Mohammed added that the victim was successfully rescued, debriefed, and reunited with his family.
In another operation, the Commissioner disclosed that two suspected kidnappers, Musa Ahmed, 29, and Adamu Yusuf, 28, were arrested on January 2, 2026, along the Nasarawa Eggon–Mada Station Road.
He stated that the suspects were intercepted while riding a motorcycle and allegedly attempted to bribe police officers with ₦200,000. The money was rejected and recovered as an exhibit.
“On January 2, 2026, at about 5:54 pm, police operatives attached to Nasarawa Eggon Division, while on routine patrol, mounted a snap checkpoint along the Nasarawa Eggon–Mada Station Road. Based on credible intelligence, Musa Ahmed of Nunku Village, Akwanga LGA, and Adamu Yusuf of Basa Village, Kokona LGA, who were riding a Daylong motorcycle, were intercepted and arrested.
“The suspects attempted to bribe the operatives with the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (₦200,000), which was rejected and recovered as an exhibit,” he said.
The Commissioner further revealed that preliminary investigations showed the suspects had earlier kidnapped a person in Arusu Village, Kokona Local Government Area. He said police engaged the suspects during that operation and rescued the victim, although the suspects escaped at the time with gunshot injuries.
“Upon their arrest, one of them was found to still be nursing a gunshot injury. The suspects have since confessed to the crime,” CP Mohammed added.
The police command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining security across Nasarawa State and urged residents to continue providing timely information to aid crime-fighting efforts.
