The Nasarawa State Police Command has announced the arrest of 12 suspects and the rescue of seven kidnapped victims during a series of security operations carried out across the state.
The operatives also recovered five firearms and seized the sum of ₦200,000, allegedly offered as a bribe by suspects during one of the operations.
Briefing journalists in Lafia, the Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, said the achievements were the result of intelligence-driven policing and sustained collaboration with local communities and sister security agencies.
He explained that one of the major breakthroughs followed the abduction of a 43-year-old man, Shuaibu Umoru, in Giza town.
“On 2nd January, 2026, at about 12 midnight Information was received that suspected kidnappers invaded the residence of one Shuaibu Umoru (not real name), aged 43, of Giza town and abducted him to an unknown destination.”
According to the police commissioner, a manhunt was immediately launched, leading to significant progress days later.
“Following this, I immediately ordered a manhunt for the assailants. Subsequently, on 11th January, 2026, at about | :30pm information was received that an individual was sighted tied to a tree in a forest at Sabon Gida-Abuni area of Awe LGA.”
He said operatives from the Awe Division, working alongside local hunters, were swiftly deployed to the area.
“Police operatives attached to Awe Division, in collaboration with local hunters, were mobilized to the scene. Upon sighting the operatives, the hoodlums opened fire, but the operatives responded with superior firepower, leading to the neutralization of one of the suspects and the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, one magazine, and two rounds of 7.62x39mm live ammunition.”
CP Shetima added that the victim was successfully rescued, debriefed and reunited with his family.
In a related development, the command arrested two suspects at a snap checkpoint along the Nasarawa Eggon–Mada Station Road.
He identified the suspects as Musa Ahmed, 29, of Nunku Village in Akwanga LGA, and Adamu Yusuf, 28, of Basa Village in Kokona LGA, who 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.
“Based on credible intelligence, the duo of Musa Ahmed (29 years) of Nunku Village, Akwanga LGA, and Adamu Yusuf (28 years) of Basa Village, Kokona LGA, who were riding on a Daylong motorcycle, were intercepted and arrested. The suspects attempted to bribe the operatives with the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Naira which was rejected and recovered as an exhibit.”
The commissioner said preliminary investigations linked the suspects to a previous kidnapping incident in Arusu Village, Kokona LGA.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects had earlier kidnapped a person at Arusu Village of Kokona LGA, where the Police engaged them and rescued the victim, while the suspects escaped with bullet wounds. Upon their arrest, one of them was found to still be nursing a gunshot injury.”
CP Shetima also disclosed that a joint operation involving the Nasarawa State Police Command and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command led to the rescue of four children abducted on December 31, 2025, at New Nyanya in Karu LGA.
He said the children were recovered unhurt from a hideout, while two suspects, Abraham Asoje, 28, and Joy Bolaje, 29, were identified as being responsible for the abduction.
“The rescue followed a report received on 31st December, 2025, at New Nyanya Division, Karu Local Government Area, regarding the mysterious disappearance of the children under suspicious circumstances.”
“Upon receipt of the report, the Command immediately launched a thorough investigation. Acting on credible intelligence, detectives of the Command, in collaboration with operatives of the FCT Police Command traced the suspects’ hideout where the children were safely recovered unhurt.”
The police commissioner further revealed that two high-profile suspects, Kabiru Isah and Monday Bulus, who had been on the command’s wanted list for multiple armed robbery incidents across the state, were arrested on January 10, 2026.
“On 10th January, 2026, at about 2200hrs, acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Robbery Section arrested two notorious armed robbery suspects, Kabiru Isah and Monday Bulus, who had been on theCommand’s wanted list for their involvement in several robbery operations across the State.”
“During the operation, one G3 rifle without serial number was recovered. A follow-up operation on 11th January, 2026, also led to the recovery of one pump-action rifle.”
CP Shetima commended the contributions of community policing and inter-agency cooperation to the successes recorded, and urged residents to continue supporting the police with timely and credible information.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nasarawa State Police Command to sustaining peace and security across the state.
