Nasarawa Police Arrest Four Over Alleged Kidnap-and-Kill Plot, Two Others Over Lafia Killing

The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested four suspects over an alleged plot to kidnap and kill a man after collecting ransom in Obi Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects, identified as Yahaya Musa, Likita Adamu, Riga Abdullahi and Saidu Alhaji Gari, are all from Adudu District. They were arrested by operatives of the State Intelligence Department (SID) in Lafia following what the police described as credible intelligence.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued on Wednesday. According to him, the suspects allegedly planned to abduct Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, also known as Alhaji Na’iye, and kill him after collecting ransom.

Nansel said intelligence reports helped security operatives uncover the alleged plot before it could be carried out. Two of the suspects were arrested on September 19, while the remaining two were apprehended on September 22 and 23. The suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Lafia for further investigation.

In a separate incident, the command arrested two suspects in connection with the suspected cult-related killing of a 26-year-old man identified as Venus in Lafia. The victim, an indigene of Benue State, was reportedly found lying in a pool of blood behind the Eji-World area at about 6:00 a.m. on September 24.

Police said the victim was rushed to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia, where he was confirmed dead. Preliminary investigations suggested that the attackers may have been looking for his friend, Joseph Friday Oluyemi, who reportedly told investigators that he had previously received threats from people suspected to be cult members.

The police identified the two suspects arrested in connection with the killing as Friday Joshua and ThankGod Auta Vincent. The command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other suspects, while the deceased’s remains had been deposited at the hospital mortuary pending an autopsy.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Muhammad, directed investigators to conduct thorough investigations into both cases and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted in accordance with the law. He also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements and activities to the police.