LAFIA — In a major breakthrough for regional security, operatives attached to the Nasarawa State Police Command have successfully rescued six undergraduate students of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK). The students had been violently abducted from their off-campus residence earlier this month. Alongside the successful rescue operation, tactical teams managed to track down and apprehend two high-profile suspects, including the alleged mastermind behind the regional kidnapping syndicate.

The students, who belong to the university's Faculty of Engineering, were ambushed and taken hostage on May 6, 2026, at their off-campus quarters located in the Gudi community. Gudi, which sits within the Akwanga Local Government Area of the state, is notably the hometown of the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule. The daring nature of the student raid had initially triggered widespread panic and protests among the university's student body and surrounding host communities.

Tactical Precision: Intelligence-Led Assault Secures Release

Confirming the strategic breakthrough to news correspondents, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Nasarawa State Command, SP Ramhan Nansel, issued an official statement detailing the logistics of the rescue. According to Nansel, the students regained their freedom following a series of highly coordinated, intelligence-led raids and relentless pressure applied by tactical operatives against the kidnappers' forest hideouts.

The pressure cooker strategy forced the criminal cell to fracture, leading to the direct arrest of the ringleader, identified as Abdullahi Yeyi Haro, alongside his primary lieutenant, Basiru Abdullahi. Strikingly, both suspects were found to be permanent residents of the Gudi enclave, suggesting they utilized local intelligence to monitor the students' daily routines before executing the raid.

"The suspects were apprehended after a diligent, multi-agency investigation aimed at completely dismantling the localized criminal network responsible for terrorizing the university axis," SP Nansel stated. "We are highly pleased to confirm that all six abducted students have been safely extracted from danger. They have been formally reunited with their families and are currently undergoing intensive medical evaluations and psychological support to help them recover from the trauma of their ordeal."

The Official Police Declaration: Zero Tolerance for Campus Crime

The state command issued a comprehensive breakdown of the breakthrough, emphasizing that its counter-kidnapping units are actively pursuing the remaining remnants of the gang who fled deeper into the bush during the final tactical raid.

The official police statement read in part:

"Following sustained intelligence-led operations and coordinated tactical efforts by operatives of the Command, two suspected kidnappers linked to the incident have been arrested. The suspects, identified as Abdullahi Yeyi Haro, the alleged leader of the kidnapping syndicate, and one Basiru Abdullahi, both males from Gudi, were apprehended after a strategic operation. The Command is pleased to confirm that the abducted students have been safely released.

The Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa State Command, CP Shetimma Jauro-Mohammed, heavily commends the operatives involved in this delicate operation for their absolute professionalism, field resilience, and unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of our educational institutions. He reiterates the Command’s firm determination to completely rid Nasarawa State of all forms of violent criminality."

CP Jauro-Mohammed further assured the public that the current arrests represent only the initial phase of the crackdown. The command is leveraging data extracted from the suspects' seized mobile devices to track down their weapon suppliers and financial facilitators who help process ransom logistics.

Strengthening Host-Community Vigilance

The police leadership extended deep appreciation to the local Gudi hunters, university security officials, and community informants whose timely, anonymous tips regarding suspicious movements around the off-campus student housing blocks greatly accelerated the tracking process.

University authorities at NSUK have since advised students residing outside the main Keffi campus to strictly adhere to recommended night curfews and report unfamiliar faces within their residential clusters to security agents. The command urged residents across the state to remain highly vigilant, emphasizing that continuous public collaboration is the most effective weapon to ensure proactive crime prevention and guarantee that criminal elements find no safe haven within Nasarawa's borders.