Nasarawa Police neutralise suspected kidnapper on Lafia–Akwanga Highway

2026-03-23 - 15:04

By Edwin Philip, Lafia Lafia, Nasarawa – The Nasarawa State Police Command has neutralised a suspected kidnapper and disrupted his gang, which had been terrorising motorists on the Lafia–Akwanga Highway. In a statement, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Ramhan Nansel, said the incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on Monday, when a patrol team from Nasarawa Eggon Division discovered the highway blocked with stones near Rice Mill, Nasarawa Eggon, by armed men suspected to be kidnappers. “Upon sighting the police patrol team, the hoodlums opened fire, prompting a swift response from our operatives. In the ensuing gunfight, the criminals were overpowered,” the statement said. One suspect, identified as Auta Habu of Gidan Waya in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area, was neutralised. Others reportedly fled into the surrounding bush with possible gunshot wounds. The injured suspect was rushed to a medical facility, where he was confirmed dead by a doctor. Following a distress alert, Commissioner of Police Shetima Jauro Mohamed quickly deployed reinforcements to secure the area and restore normalcy. Investigations revealed that the deceased had been involved in multiple criminal activities. The command has reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property across the state and urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station. The highway has since been cleared and is now safe for motorists.