Kidnappers flee as police rescue 4 victims in Nasarawa

From Abel Leonard, Lafia

The Nasarawa State Police Command has foiled a kidnapping operation in Akwanga Local Government , rescuing four abducted victims unhurt after a gun battle with suspected kidnappers.

The incident occurred at about 9:40 p.m. on Tuesday near Megona Filling Station in Andaha, along the Akwanga–Jos Road, following a distress call reporting the activities of armed men in the area.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Ramhan Nansel, the command said operatives attached to the Andaha Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), swiftly mobilised to the scene in response to the report.

According to Nansel, the suspects opened fire on the police team upon sighting the operatives, prompting an exchange of gunfire.

“The police responded with superior tactical firepower, forcing the criminals to abandon their victims and flee into the surrounding bush with varying degrees of injuries,” he said.

He added that the four kidnapped victims were rescued unharmed, while several items believed to have been stolen from a nearby provision store were recovered and taken into police custody.

Reacting to the operation, the Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa State Command, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, commended the courage and professionalism displayed by the operatives.

He described the successful rescue as “a testament to the Command’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property.”

The police commissioner directed that all available operational and intelligence assets be deployed to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.

“The Command has launched an intensive manhunt for the fleeing suspects to ensure their immediate arrest and prosecution,” he said.

Nansel disclosed that the ongoing operation is being carried out in collaboration with the military, local vigilante groups and hunters, with sustained bush-combing operations underway in the area.

The command appealed to residents to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing efforts to combat crime across the  state.