The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested six suspects in connection with an alleged kidnapping plot and a separate cult-related killing in Lafia, the state capital.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed this in a statement issued in Lafia.
According to him, operatives of the State Intelligence Department, SID, uncovered a suspected plan to abduct and kill a man in Obi Local Government Area after receiving ransom.
The investigation led to the arrest of four suspects identified as Yahaya Musa, Likita Adamu, Riga Abdullahi and Saidu Alhaji Gari, all residents of Adudu District in Obi Local Government Area.
The police said the suspects allegedly planned to abduct Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, popularly known as Alhaji Na’iye, but their plan was detected before it could be carried out.
Two of the suspects were arrested on September 19, while the third and fourth suspects were apprehended on September 22 and 23 respectively.
The command said preliminary interrogation indicated that the suspects allegedly intended to kill the victim after collecting ransom.
The four suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Lafia, for further investigation and prosecution.
In a separate incident, police arrested two suspects over the alleged cult-related killing of a 26-year-old man in Lafia.
The incident followed a distress call received by the Ombi 1 Division at about 6am on September 24 concerning a man found lying in a pool of blood behind the Eji-World area of the city.
Police officers who arrived at the scene identified the victim as Venus, an indigene of Benue State.
He was taken to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
Police investigations reportedly indicated that those involved in the attack had allegedly been searching for the deceased’s friend, Joseph Friday Oluyemi, who resides on Maisoti Street, Lafia.
The command said Oluyemi had earlier reported receiving threats from suspected cult members.
Two suspects, Friday Joshua and ThankGod Auta Vincent, were subsequently arrested in connection with the incident, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other suspected participants.
The deceased’s remains have been deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy.
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 urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the police promptly.
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