The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a suspected kidnapper and recovered sophisticated weapons alongside over ₦6.9 million cash after a lone motor accident in Kokona Local Government Area of the state.
The incident occurred on Monday, August 18, 2025, at about 9:08 a.m., when operatives of the Garaku Division received a distress call from Angwan Mayo community regarding a crash involving an Opel Vectra vehicle near the VIO checkpoint. Two occupants of the vehicle reportedly fled the scene.
Upon arrival, the police found that members of the public had already gathered, while a vigilant Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) had recovered a G3 rifle and cash abandoned in the accident vehicle.
The vehicle was towed to the station, where a thorough search led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, one Type 06 rifle, one G3 rifle, three magazines, 57 rounds of live ammunition, and a total of ₦6,908,150 in cash.
Following the discovery, police operatives in collaboration with the military launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspects. One of them, identified as Mohammed Tahir of Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, was later arrested after attempting to escape through the forest.
During interrogation, Tahir confessed to being part of a seven-man kidnapping gang responsible for the abduction of a lawyer in Nyanya, Abuja, from whom ransom was collected. He further disclosed that he and another accomplice were en route to Jos to share the proceeds of the crime before the crash occurred.
The suspect and recovered exhibits have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Lafia, for further investigation as directed by the Commissioner of Police, CP Shettima Jauro Mohammed.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, said the Commissioner commended the vigilance of the public and assured residents of the Command’s commitment to rid the state of crime in collaboration with sister security agencies.