Operatives of the Nasarawa State Police Command have rescued a kidnapped lecturer, Isaac Igbawua, from his abductors.
Mr. Igbawua, who worked with the Department of MicroBiology at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, was kidnapped by gunmen from his residence along Old Barracks, Kokona Local Government Area on December 27, 2023.
Spokesperson of the command, Ramhan Nansel, who disclosed this in a statement 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 Thursday, December 28.
“Reacting to the unpleasant development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Shehu Nadada, ordered an intensive manhunt for the abductors,” the statement read.
“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,”
“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 command also arrested a 25-year-old student of the Federal University Lafia, one Daniel Favour Chukwuebuka, and recovered arms and ammunition from his residence.
The 200 level student of the Department of Social Works, was arrested on Thursday, 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,” the PPRO stated.
“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,”
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.