From Abel Leonard, Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Police Command has confirmed the kidnapping of the state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Lawal, at his resident at Nasarawa Eggon.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Nansel Ramhan, confirmed the incident in a statement, yesterday.
“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,” he stated.
Consequently, he said the police operatives attached to Nasarawa Eggon Division raced to the scene while the Commissioner of Police, 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.
“Upon arrival at the scene, it was discovered that unknown gunmen, while shooting sporadically, invaded the residence of one Hon. Yakubu Lawal Addah and forcefully abducted him to an unknown destination.”
He further said the search and rescue operation was 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 further called on anyone with useful information that would assist the Command to rescue the victim or arrest of the suspects to reach out to the command.
Meanwhile, Governor Abdullahi Sule has assured that his administration will take stringent actions against perpetrators of crime and criminality in the state, stressing that government will beef up security around Nasarawa Eggon.
The governor also advised political appointees and other top government functionaries to be a little more cautious while going about their responsibilities.
Daily Sun had reported that the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Lawal Yakubu, was kidnapped yesterday in his home town, Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of the state.
The governor made the disclosure while chairing the quarterly meeting of the Nasarawa Enabling Business Environment Council, at the Government House, yesterday.
Sule said efforts were on to draft additional security to Nasarawa Eggon to safeguard the lives of citizens. He further urged top government officials in the state to ensure adequate security protection, adding that the state Commissioner of Police, Adesina Soyemi, had expressed readiness to provide protection to government officials.
The governor decried the spate of kidnapping in Nasarawa Eggon and described three kidnappings within a short period as unfortunate, assuring that government’s determination to handle the situation.