Nasarawa Police arrest six over alleged kidnap plot, cult-linked killing

Nasarawa State Police Command says it has disrupted an alleged kidnapping plot in Obi Local Government Area and arrested four suspects accused of planning to abduct and subsequently kill their intended victim after collecting ransom.

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

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.

According to Nansel, the suspects allegedly targeted Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, also known as Alhaji Na’iye, as part of the planned operation.

Nansel stated that an intelligence report led to the discovery of the plot before the suspects could carry it out. Two of the suspects were arrested on September 19, while the remaining two were apprehended on September 22 and 23.

He added that preliminary interrogation indicated that the suspects allegedly planned to collect ransom from the victim before killing him.

Nansel said the suspects had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Lafia, where investigations are continuing.

In a separate case, the command also arrested two suspects in connection with the suspected cult-related killing of a 26-year-old man in Lafia.

According to the police, the incident occurred at about 6:00 a.m. on September 24, after the Divisional Police Officer of Ombi 1 Division received a distress call concerning a young man found lying in a pool of blood behind the Eji-World area.

Police operatives who arrived at the scene found the victim, identified as Venus, an indigene of Benue State.

He was rushed to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia, where medical personnel confirmed him dead.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the attackers may have been searching for the victim’s friend, Joseph Friday Oluyemi, of Maisoti Street, Lafia.

Oluyemi reportedly told investigators that he had previously received threats from people suspected to be members of a cult group.

The police subsequently arrested Friday Joshua and ThankGod Auta Vincent in connection with the incident.

The command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other suspects believed to be involved in the killing.

The deceased’s remains have been deposited at the hospital mortuary pending an autopsy to assist the investigation.

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 called on residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons, movements or activities to the police.

The command said information from members of the public remains critical to preventing kidnapping, cult-related violence and other criminal activities across the state.