Police Foil Kidnap Attempt, Rescue 4 Victims In Nasarawa

The Nasarawa State Police Command has foiled a kidnapping attempt along the Akwanga-Jos Road and rescued four abducted victims unhurt.

The victims were rescued on Monday night after police operatives engaged suspected kidnappers in a gun duel around Megona Filling Station in Andaha, Akwanga Local Government Area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lafia.

According to him, operatives attached to the Andaha Division received a distress call at about 9:40 p.m. that armed hoodlums were operating around the filling station.

“Upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer immediately mobilised and led a team of operatives to the scene. On sighting the police, the armed hoodlums opened fire on the operatives, leading to a gun duel,” Nansel said.

He explained that the operatives responded with superior tactical firepower, forcing the suspects to abandon their victims and flee into the surrounding bush with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.

Nansel said all four kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt, while provisions believed to have been stolen from a nearby provision store were recovered.

He added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, commended the officers for their bravery and swift response, describing the successful rescue as a reflection of the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

The Commissioner directed an intensive manhunt for the fleeing suspects and ordered the deployment of all available operational and intelligence assets to ensure their arrest and prosecution.

Nansel said the operation is being carried out in collaboration with the military, local vigilante groups and hunters, with sustained bush-combing operations ongoing to track down the suspects.

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