Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has commended the Department of State Services, DSS, and other security agencies for the successful rescue of kidnapped victims and the dismantling of a criminal hideout on the outskirts of Atabula village, Aloshi District, in the Obi Local Government Area of the state.
The governor’s commendation followed a recent operation in which DSS operatives rescued Mr. Joseph Obagwu, who had earlier gone to negotiate the release of his abducted son, Samuel Olom Obagwu, a student of the Federal University of Lafia, FULAFIA.
In a parallel operation on the same Tuesday, DSS officers arrested three members of the kidnap syndicate at Gidigidi Hotel, behind Shinge Market in Lafia LGA. The suspects were identified as Abdullahi Musa, Titus Baka Fidelis, and Sani Adamu.
Investigations revealed that Adamu had collected ₦200,000 from the victim’s family as part of the ransom demanded by the syndicate.
Also Read:DSS arrests impersonator extorting motorists in Abuja
Reacting to the development, Governor Sule described the arrests as a clear demonstration of the effectiveness and dedication of the nation’s security agencies. He urged them to sustain the momentum and remain resolute in the fight against criminal elements terrorising communities in the state.
The governor also appealed to citizens to remain vigilant and provide timely, credible and useful information to security operatives, stressing that collective vigilance and cooperation are essential to maintaining peace and security in Nasarawa State.
Also commending the DSS, the traditional ruler of Duduguru community in the Jenkwe Development Area of Obi LGA, Chief Pius Ogu, said the rescue operation had brought enormous relief to his people.
According to him, the elder Obagwu was abducted after paying a ₦2 million ransom for the release of his son, the FULAFIA student who was earlier kidnapped on August 11, 2026.
“The kidnappers released the son and took the father as a replacement,” the traditional ruler disclosed.
He explained further: “The DSS operatives, apparently acting on credible intelligence, stormed the kidnappers’ camp in the early hours of Tuesday, forcing them to flee into nearby bushes. In the process, they successfully rescued the victim, Joseph Obagwu, who had been held hostage since August 15, 2026. The operatives thereafter razed the criminals’ camp.”
He added that the arrested suspects are currently in custody undergoing interrogation, noting that the rescue and arrests had brought considerable relief to his community.
Chief Ogu further stated: “We used to hear that the DSS has been unrelenting in its effort to wipe out kidnapping and other forms of violent crimes across the country. We witnessed this firsthand, and we are very happy for it.
“As the agency continues to deploy a combination of intelligence-driven operations, sustained surveillance, and strategic collaboration with sister security agencies to track down perpetrators and dismantle their hideouts, we, the citizens, pledge our support to help them continue on this great path,” he declared.
The latest operation is coming as part of a wider crackdown on kidnapping syndicates operating along the fringes of Obi and Lafia LGAs, an axis that has in recent months witnessed a spike in abductions targeting students and rural dwellers.
Crediblenewsng.com
