Police arrest eight over Nasarawa kidnap, recover two AK-47 rifles

The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested eight suspected kidnappers linked to the abduction of two residents of Rukubi Community in Doma Local Government Area, following a joint security operation involving the military, vigilantes and local youths.

Shetima Mohammed, the Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa state command disclosed this during a press briefing on Thursday in Lafia, saying the suspects were arrested after armed hoodlums invaded the community on Tuesday night, shooting sporadically and creating panic among residents.

According to him, the attackers stormed the residences of Habib Usman and Peter Ajidiku and abducted two victims identified as Ayele Jonathan and Rose Samuel to an unknown destination before security operatives swiftly responded to the distress call.

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“Upon receipt of the report, police patrol teams were immediately mobilised in collaboration with personnel of the Nigerian Military, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, National Forest Security Service and vigilant youths of the community,” the police commissioner said.

Mohammed said the coordinated operation led to the arrest of the suspects identified as Adamu Alfa (35), Muhammed Alfa (25), Shuaibu Alfa (33), Usman Alfa (25), Ali Alfa (30), Isa Alfa (15), Adamu Alfa (25), and Ja’afaru Alfa (38), all from Rugan Alhaji Alfa in Rukubi Village. He added that two AK-47 rifles and four Bajaj motorcycles were recovered during the operation.

“Furthermore, one of the suspects, identified as Muhammed Alfa, sustained fatal injuries during the encounter and later died while receiving treatment,” he stated, adding that two expended AK-47 ammunition shells were also recovered from the victims’ residence as exhibits connected to the incident.

The police commissioner commended the military, vigilantes, community youths and officers of the command for their support and professionalism, assuring residents of Rukubi and adjoining communities that security had been strengthened to prevent further criminal attacks in the area.

Nathaniel Gbaoron

Nathaniel E. Gbaoron is the Plateau State correspondent for BusinessDay and a seasoned journalist with a decade of experience covering sub-national affairs across Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, and other states. He holds both National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication from Fidel Polytechnic, Gboko. Over the years, he has participated in numerous media trainings and workshops spanning various areas of reporting, strengthening his expertise in economic and political reporting, community-level governance, development stories, and conflict-sensitive journalism. He is a member of Correspondent Chapel in Plateau state, a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), he is also a Rotarian and a member of Plateau Club 1921.