The police command in Nasarawa State says it has rescued two kidnap victims and detained one suspect in separate operations across the state.
SP Ramhan Nansel, the command’s police public relations officer (PPRO), disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists on Wednesday in Lafia.
Mr Nansel described the development as another breakthrough in the command’s sustained efforts to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.
According to him, a patrol team of the Anti-Robbery Squad on Monday, February 3, at about 3:10 p.m., rescued one David O., a resident of Tudun Amba area of Lafia.
“The victim had boarded a commercial motorcycle from Lafia to Assakio. On reaching Kireyi village, the motorcyclist diverted into a bush path and forcefully took him into the forest.
“Police operatives on routine patrol received intelligence on the incident and immediately launched a search operation. The victim was subsequently located in the bush and rescued, while the suspect fled the scene,” he said.
The police spokesperson added that the victim stated that he had been taken to a kidnappers’ den and managed to escape before the arrival of the police.
Similarly, Mr Nansel said operatives attached to the Gitata Police Division arrested one Jamilu Salisu of Ditsenma, Katsina State, over the abduction of a 14-year-old Junior Secondary School (JSS) II student of UBE Gitata.
He said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect abducted the victim beside a mosque in Gitata and took him into the forest.
“Police received information from a good Nigerian, who sighted the suspect while taking the victim toward a riverbank.
“Operatives swiftly mobilised to the area, arrested the suspect and rescued the victim, while one accomplice escaped and is currently at large,” he said.
MrNansel said the Commissioner of Police, Shetima Mohammed, had ordered an intensive manhunt for the fleeing suspect and directed a thorough investigation into the cases.
He assured residents of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, while appreciating members of the public for providing timely and credible information that led to the successful operations.
The police spokesperson urged continued cooperation with security agencies to enhance public safety across the state.
(NAN)