The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested four suspects over an alleged plan to kidnap and kill a man after collecting ransom in Obi Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects, identified as Yahaya Musa, Likita Adamu, Riga Abdullahi and Saidu Alhaji Gari, are all from Adudu District. They were arrested by operatives of the State Intelligence Department (SID), Lafia, following credible intelligence received by the police.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.
According to Nansel, the suspects allegedly planned to abduct Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, popularly known as Alhaji Na’iye. He said the police uncovered the plan before it could be carried out.
Two of the suspects were arrested on September 19, while the other two were apprehended on September 22 and 23.
The police spokesman said preliminary interrogation showed that the suspects allegedly intended to collect ransom from the victim before killing him.
The suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Lafia for further investigation.
In a separate incident, the police also arrested two suspects over the suspected cult-related killing of a 26-year-old man in Lafia.
The victim, identified as Venus, an indigene of Benue State, was found lying in a pool of blood behind the Eji-World area at about 6:00 a.m. on September 24.
Police operatives rushed him to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia, where he was confirmed dead by medical personnel.
Preliminary investigations suggested that the attackers may have been looking for the victim’s friend, Joseph Friday Oluyemi, who lives on Maisoti Street, Lafia.
Oluyemi reportedly told investigators that he had previously received threats from suspected cult members.
Following the incident, police arrested Friday Joshua and ThankGod Auta Vincent in connection with the killing.
The command said efforts were ongoing to arrest other suspects believed to be involved in the incident.
The victim’s remains have been deposited at the hospital mortuary pending an autopsy.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Muhammad, directed the investigators to conduct thorough investigations into both cases and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted according to the law.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons, movements and activities to the police.
The command stressed that information from members of the public is important in preventing kidnapping, cult-related violence and other criminal activities in the state.
