Police arrest six suspected kidnappers, cultists in Nasarawa

The Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa State Command, CP Shetima Jauro Muhammad.

The Nasarawa State Police Command says it has recorded significant operational breakthroughs with the arrest of four suspected abductors who allegedly planned to kidnap and subsequently kill their intended victim after collecting ransom, as well as the arrest of two suspects in connection with a cult-related killing in Lafia, the state capital.

This was contained in a press statement made available to journalists in Lafia, on Thursday, by the Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel.

According to Nansel, following credible intelligence received by operatives of the State Intelligence Department, Lafia, concerning criminal conspiracy and an attempt to commit an offence, to wit: abduction, the Command commenced discreet investigations into the planned operation.

He explained that the investigation led to the arrest of four suspects, namely Yahaya Musa ‘m’, Likita Adamu ‘m’, Riga Abdullahi ‘m’, and Saidu Alhaji Gari ‘m’, all residents of Adudu District, Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects had allegedly planned to abduct one Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, also known as Alhaji Na’iye. However, the plan was uncovered before it could be executed.

“Consequently, operatives of the SID arrested two of the suspects on September 19, 2026, while the third suspect was arrested on September 22, 2026 and the fourth on September 23, 2026,” he said.

The PPRO further explained that during interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to their involvement in the planned abduction and further disclosed that they had planned to kill the victim after collecting ransom.

He added that the suspects have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Lafia, for further investigation and prosecution.

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On the arrest of two more suspects involved in cult-related killing in Lafia, SP Nansel said in a separate development, that the Command, on September 24, 2026 at about 0600 hours, received a distress call concerning the discovery of an unknown male lying in a pool of blood behind the Eji-World area of Lafia.

He said upon receipt of the information, the Divisional Police Officer, Ombi 1 Division, Lafia, personally led a team of police officers to the scene, where they discovered Venus (surname unknown), ‘m’, aged 26 years, an indigene of Benue State, lying in a pool of blood.

He said, “The victim was immediately evacuated to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia, where he was subsequently confirmed dead by a medical doctor.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects had allegedly gone in search of the victim’s friend, Joseph Friday Oluyemi ‘m’ of Maisoti Street, Lafia, who later reported to the Police that he had earlier received threats from suspected cult members.”

The PPRO explained further that in connection with the incident, Police operatives have arrested two suspects, identified as Friday Joshua ‘m’ and ThankGod Auta Vincent ‘m’, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other persons suspected to be involved in the incident.

Nansel further stated, “The corpse of the deceased has been deposited at the mortuary of the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia, for autopsy.

“The Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa State Command, CP Shetima Jauro Muhammad, has directed that the investigations be conducted diligently and professionally, with all persons found culpable brought to justice in accordance with the law.

“CP Shetima urges members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the Police,” he added.