Gunmen kidnap Nasarawa Information Commissioner after killing teacher

The operative of the Nigeria Police Force, Nasarawa State command has confirmed the abduction of the Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism in the State, Mr Yakubu Lawal.

It was learnt that Lawal was kidnapped at his residence in Nasarawa Eggon, the headquarters of Nasarawa Eggon Local government area of the state by gunmen.

The incident, which occurred on Monday, August 15, 2022, is causing panic in the Nasarawa Eggon LGA of the state where a schoolteacher was killed by some gunmen on Saturday.

It was gathered that the gunmen stormed the residence of the information commissioner at about 8:45 pm and started shooting into the air, scaring residents of the area away before abducting him.

A family source also confirmed the incident to our correspondent. It was learnt that the operation lasted over 30 minutes before the arrival of security operatives.

Our correspondent reports that the incident is coming 48 hours after a staff member of Government Science Secondary School (GSSS), Nasarawa Eggon LGA, Auta Nasela, was Killed by gunmen at the staff quarters around 8 pm on Saturday, while another teacher sustained injuries.

Confirming the commissioner’s abduction in a statement on Tuesday morning, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Rahman Nansel, said the command had already drafted operatives to the scene of the incident with a view to rescuing the victim unhurt.

He said, “Police operatives attached to Nasarawa Eggon Division raced to the scene while the Commissioner of Police, Mr Adesina Soyemi immediately reinforced the men with a combined detachment of the Police Mobile Force, the anti-kidnapping unit, military personnel, vigilantes as well as local hunters.

“On 15/8/202 at about 2045hrs, the attention of policemen on routine patrol was drawn to the sound of sporadic gunshots in the Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of the state. Upon arrival at the scene, it was discovered that gunmen while shooting sporadically, invaded the residence of one Mr Yakubu Lawal Addah, and forcefully abducted him to an unknown destination.

“The search and rescue operation is ongoing by the combined team, led by Area Commander, Akwanga Area Command, ACP Halliru Aliyu to rescue the victim unhurt and arrest the perpetrators of the crime.”

The Commissioner of Police, however, urged the citizens of the state to provide the command with useful information that can lead to the rescue of the victim and the arrest of the suspects via the following numbers: 08035951018, 08033806409, 08037461715 and 08036157659.