The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a woman, Asabe Isa, and her husband, Umar Isa, for allegedly kidnapping a two-year-old boy, Godwin Abeson, and demanding a ransom of ₦5 million for his release.
The State Commissioner of Police, Shettima Jauro Mohammed, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists in Lafia.
He said the couple abducted the child from Sabon Pegi, Shabu, in Lafia on October 16 before police detectives tracked them down.
“Upon receiving the complaint, police detectives launched a manhunt and arrested the suspects alongside one Emmanuel Polycarp, who hid the victim at his residence in Angwan Nungu,” CP Shettima said.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Asabe conspired with her husband to carry out the abduction. The suspects have reportedly confessed to the crime and will soon be charged to court.
The commissioner said 24 suspected kidnappers are currently in police custody following intensified operations against the rising wave of kidnapping in the state.
He added that several kidnapping attempts were foiled between August and October, with suspects including Leko Jibrin, Maigari Nature, Babare Ishaku, Abdullahi Hassan, Usman Yau, Musa Adamu, Yakubu Ali, Musa Abubakar, Yahaya Abdullahi, Usman Bello, Mohammed Ide, Yahaya Sulaiman, Abdullahi Haruna, and Christopher Habila.
Others in custody are Illiyasu Umar, Ibrahim Adamu, Umar Faruq, Ali Sani, Muhammed Ibrahim, Nuhu Mohammed, and Mohammed Alhaji Giginya.
Recovered items from the suspects include locally made firearms, live ammunition, ₦165,000 cash, and other dangerous weapons.
In a related development, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nasarawa State Command, said its operatives neutralised two suspected kidnappers during a recent operation.
The State Commandant, Brah Samson Umoru, said that following a security review, the command established the Crack Squad and revitalised the Agro Rangers unit to strengthen its anti-kidnapping efforts.
He said, “On Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at about 7:08 a.m., operatives foiled a kidnapping attempt targeting residents of Bukan Ari, Kurikyo Road, Shabu, Sabon Pegi, Azuba, and parts of Lafia metropolis. During a fierce gun battle, two kidnappers were neutralised, two suspects arrested, while one escaped and is being trailed.”
Items recovered from the suspects included one AK-47 rifle, an AK-47 magazine, 40 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, five mobile phones, two knives, and charms.
Residents of Lafia have called for stronger punishment against kidnappers to discourage the growing crime.
CP Shettima assured that the command remains committed to protecting lives and property, urging residents to stay vigilant and share useful information with security agencies.
