Police rescue kidnapped lecturer in Nasarawa, arrests ‘notorious’ criminal

The Nasarawa State Police Command on Friday confirmed the rescue of a lecturer with the state university in Keffi, Isaac Igbawua, from his kidnappers.

The Nasarawa Police in a statement signed by the spokesperson, DSP Ramhan Nansel, also said it has arrested a notorious criminal identified as Daniel Favour Chukwuebuka.

According to Nansel, unidentified armed men at about 04:15 am on December 27, 2023 invaded the residence of Igbawua, a lecturer attached to the Department of Micro Biology, Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

The lecturer who resides at Old Barracks, Kokona LGA, was whisked to an unknown destination and reacting to the unpleasant development, the Nasarawa Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Shehu Nadada, ordered an intensive manhunt for the abductors.

The search paid off on December 28 at about 4:30 pm 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 a vigilante group mobilized to the scene.

“On sighting the operatives, the hoodlums opened fire but were gallantly repelled, they took to flight but the victim was rescued unhurt and reunited with his family after undergoing medical examination at Police Clinic, Lafia,” Nansel said.

Also, on December 28 acting based on credible information, operatives of the Nasarawa Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit arrested Chukwuebuka ‘m’ 25yrs, a 200 Level student of the Department of Social Works, Federal University of Lafia.

Nansel said 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 exhibit.

“The Commissioner of Police has commended the officers for a job well done,” the Nasarawa State Police spokesperson stated.

Nansel added that CP Nadada has urged members of the public to always feed the police with adequate information in order to rid the state of criminals while he also assured them of utmost confidentiality.