Police in Nasarawa State freed four abduction victims after operatives from the Andaha Division engaged suspected kidnappers in a firefight. The dramatic rescue followed a distress call received on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, around 9:40 p.m. about criminal activity near Megona Filling Station in Andaha along the Akwanga–Jos Road.
The Divisional Police Officer mobilised a team to the scene immediately after the alert came in. When the armed suspects spotted the officers arriving, they opened fire, triggering a gunfight between the two sides.
Police returned fire with superior tactical force, which prompted the criminals to flee into nearby bushland with injuries sustained during the exchange. The four victims, all unhurt, were taken to safety by the rescue team.
Operatives also recovered stolen provisions believed to have come from a neighbouring shop, which they secured as evidence. Superintendent of Police Rahman Nansel, the state police command's spokesman, released details of the operation in a statement on Wednesday in Lafia.
Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police Shetima Jauro Mohammed praised the officers for their quick action and bravery. He said the successful operation showed the command's determination to keep residents safe and their property secure.
Mohammed ordered an aggressive search for the escaped suspects across the state. He instructed operatives to deploy all tactical and intelligence capabilities available to track them down and bring them to justice.
"The ongoing operation is being conducted in collaboration with the military, local vigilante groups and hunters, with sustained bush-combing operations currently underway to apprehend the criminals," Nansel told reporters.
The police force has called on residents throughout Nasarawa to stay alert and share reliable intelligence with security agencies. Authorities believe public cooperation remains vital to combating crime and keeping communities safe from criminal elements.
