DSS rescues abducted NSUK Dean less than 48 hours after kidnap

The Department of State Services (DSS) has rescued the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), Samuel Okunsebor, a professor, less than 48 hours after he was abducted by suspected kidnappers in Nasarawa State, prompting the university to commend the agency for what it described as a swift and intelligence-driven operation.

According to information released by the university, Professor Okunsebor was abducted at about midnight that fateful Wednesday at Mile Uku, a boundary community between Lafia and Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Areas, after armed men intercepted him.

The professor was rescued at about 3:00 p.m. on Friday during a security operation. Reports indicated that two suspects were arrested in connection with the operation, while Okunsebor was reunited with his family and taken to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia, for medical evaluation.

In a statement, the management of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, applauded the DSS for securing the safe release of the senior academic, describing the operation as professional, timely and intelligence-driven.

The university also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, the Nasarawa State Government, the DSS, other security agencies, members of staff, students, alumni and the general public for their support and solidarity during the period of the professor’s captivity.

The rescue comes amid persistent security challenges across Nigeria’s North-Central region, where incidents of kidnapping have continued to disrupt education, commercial activities and rural livelihoods, underscoring the economic costs of insecurity and the need for sustained investment in intelligence-led policing.

The incident also highlights the growing importance of coordination among security agencies in responding to kidnapping cases, particularly those involving public institutions and senior officials.

As of the time of filing this report, investigations were continuing to identify and apprehend other members of the kidnapping syndicate, while security authorities had yet to release additional operational details surrounding the rescue.