The Nasarawa State Police Command has rescued a lecturer with the state university in Keffi, Isaac Igbawua, from his abductors.
The command also arrested a student of the Federal University Lafia, one Daniel Favour Chukwuebuka, and allegedly recovered arms and ammunition from his residence.
Mr. Igbawua who worked with the Department of MicroBiology at the institution was kidnapped by gunmen from his residence along Old Barracks, Kokona Local Government Area on December 27.
A statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Ramhan Nansel, on Friday, said the lecturer was rescued by operatives in collaboration with members of a vigilance group from a forest at Ogba village, Local Government Area of the state on December 28.
The statement read, “Reacting to the unpleasant development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Shehu Nadada, ordered an intensive manhunt for the abductors.
“The search paid off on 28/12/2023 at about 1630 hrs when information was received that some strange people wearing face mask were sighted in the forest at Ogba village, Nasarawa Eggon and the police in collaboration with vigilante group mobilised to the scene,” the statement said.
It said on sighting the operatives, the hoodlums opened fire, “but were gallantly repelled; they took to flight, and the victim was rescued unhurt and reunited with his family after undergoing medical examination at Police Clinic, Lafia.”
The statement said the incident involving Mr. Chukwuebuka, 25, a 200 level student of the Department of Social Works, Federal University of Lafia, took place on December 28.
“Acting based on credible information, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit arrested one Daniel Favour Chukwuebuka ‘m’ 25yrs, a 200 Level student of the Department of Social Works, Federal University of Lafia. A search warrant was executed at his residence where one locally fabricated Beretta pistol, four (4) live ammunition, and Criminal Charms/Herbs were recovered as exhibits,” it stated.
The statement quoted the Commissioner as urging members of the public to always feed the police with adequate information in order to rid the state of criminals even as he assured them of utmost confidentiality.
