Nasarawa police rescue seven kidnap victims, arrest 35 suspects in anti-crime operations
Nasarawa State Police Report Major Crime-Fighting Achievements
Nasarawa State Police Command has announced significant progress in its ongoing efforts to combat crime, with 35 suspects arrested, seven kidnapped victims rescued, and 13 firearms recovered since January 2026.
Commissioner of Police Shetima Jauro Mohammed shared this information during a briefing with the Coordinating Deputy Inspector-General of Police for the North-Central Geo-Political Zone, DIG Isyaku Mohammed, who was visiting the Command Headquarters in Lafia.
The commissioner described the deputy inspector general’s visit as timely and strategic, indicating it provided an opportunity to review the state’s security strategies and receive guidance for enhancing police operations.
Mohammed noted that Nasarawa’s geographic location poses unique security challenges due to its proximity to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and its borders with Kaduna, Plateau, Niger, Benue, and Taraba states. He emphasized that the state’s expansive forests, rugged terrain, and extensive road network, while facilitating economic activities, also create opportunities for criminal activity.
The commissioner identified several major security concerns in the state, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cattle rustling, communal conflicts, illegal possession of firearms, and cross-border crime. He reported a decline in incidents of kidnapping, particularly along the notorious “Santa Highway” and in remote rural areas, attributing this to continued security operations and enhanced intelligence gathering.
“Through intelligence-led policing, community engagement, enhanced surveillance, and coordinated tactical operations, the Command has revised its crime-fighting strategies to more effectively address criminal activities,” Mohammed said.
He indicated that security operations have been intensified in ten identified hotspots based on crime mapping and threat assessments. These areas include the Gudi axis and surrounding communities, road corridors between Lafia-Akwanga and Akwanga-Jos, the Doma-Rukubi route, the Lafia-Makurdi highway, and various locales within the Nasarawa Eggon and Kokona local government areas.
To reinforce security in these locations, the Command has deployed both conventional and tactical policing assets, which include stop-and-search checkpoints, mobile police units, and specialized operational teams. Tactical formations have been stationed at key sites, such as Inde Hills and Akwanga Forest, aiming to restrict criminal movements.
Additionally, Safer Highway Patrol teams are maintaining continuous surveillance on major routes, including Doma Road, Makurdi Road, Shendam Road, and others, supported by intelligence gathering and rapid response units.
Mohammed reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to implementing robust crime-fighting measures and fostering partnerships with communities to protect lives and property throughout Nasarawa State.
