The Nasarawa State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its fight against kidnapping and violent crimes with the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers in Rukubi Community, Doma Local Government Area, while also intensifying efforts to rescue abducted students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) in Gudi Campus.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, disclosed this during a press briefing and a separate Statement issued by SP Ramhan Nansel, the Command Public Relations Officer in Lafia on Thursday.
According to the police, armed hoodlums invaded Rukubi Community on May 6, 2026, shooting sporadically and creating panic among residents before abducting two persons identified as Ayele Jonathan and Rose Samuel of entering the residences of Habib Usman and Peter Ajidiku.
The police said a joint security operation involving the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Military, Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), National Forest Security Service (NFSS), and local vigilante youths led to the arrest of eight suspects linked to the attack.
Items recovered during the operation included two AK-47 rifles, four Bajaj motorcycles, and two expended AK-47 ammunition shells.
The command also revealed that one of the suspects, Muhammed Alfa, sustained fatal injuries during the encounter and later died while receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, the police command confirmed another abduction incident involving students of the Faculty of Engineering, Gudi Campus of Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
The incident reportedly occurred on May 6, 2026, when unidentified armed men attacked a students’ off-campus lodge at Anguwar Ninzo in Gudi, Akwanga Local Government Area, and abducted several students alongside one visitor. The command said six victims have so far been identified.
Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment and assured students, residents, and the university community of their commitment to rescuing the victims safely.
To strengthen rescue operations, the Police Commissioner redeployed the Area Commander, Akwanga, to coordinate field operations, while a combined security team comprising the Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), vigilante groups, and tactical units was deployed to track down the abductors.
Mohammed commended security agencies and community members for their support and reaffirmed the command’s determination to rid Nasarawa State of criminal elements.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing operations against crime and criminality in the state.