The Nasarawa State Police Command has successfully thwarted a sophisticated kidnap-for-ransom plot targeting a prominent agribusiness woman and her children in Karu Local Government Area.
The breakthrough follows a high-stakes intelligence operation that led to the arrest of three suspects, including the alleged mastermind behind the coordination of the crime.
The Threat
The ordeal began in late April 2026, when the victim, whose identity is being protected for security reasons, reported a series of chilling threats to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). According to police reports, unidentified individuals had contacted the entrepreneur, demanding a ransom of ₦5 million.
The suspects issued a terrifying ultimatum: if the sum was not paid immediately, they would abduct her and her children from their residence.
Acting on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohamed, detectives launched an immediate investigation utilizing technical intelligence and local tracking.
The first breakthrough occurred in Agada Village, Karu LGA, where operatives apprehended two suspects: Prince Eze (19) and Marwan Salihu (18). During preliminary interrogation, the duo provided information that led detectives to Keffi, where the third suspect and alleged coordinator, Hassan Mathew Yerima, was taken into custody.
Confirming the arrests on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, stated that the suspects have confessed to their involvement in the criminal conspiracy.
“The prompt reporting of this threat by the victim was instrumental in our success,” SP Nansel said. “We were able to move from the point of the complaint to the arrest of the primary suspects before any physical harm could be done. This demonstrates our commitment to proactive policing rather than just reacting to crimes after they occur.”
The Commissioner of Police has reassured the public, particularly those in the agricultural and business sectors who may feel targeted, that the Command is heightening surveillance across the state.
The three suspects remain in custody at the SCID and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation. Authorities are also trailing other potential members of the criminal network linked to the group.