The police command in Nasarawa has confirmed the abduction of Yusuf Musa, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, by gunmen.

The command’s spokesperson, Rahman Nansel, a superintendent of police, confirmed the incident on Tuesday in Lafia.

According to Mr Nansel, a police team from B Division, on patrol around 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday near Shinge Road, Lafia, discovered a Peugeot pick-up van belonging to the permanent secretary left unattended with all doors open in a suspicious manner.

“Upon closer examination, officers observed that the gate to the victim’s residence was also open, prompting immediate security concerns. A swift search of the premises confirmed that he was missing, along with his GMC vehicle, bearing registration number KUJ 88 PA, raising strong suspicion of an abduction,” he said.

Mr Nansel said that in response to the development, police commissioner Shetima Jauro-Mohammed promptly activated a coordinated tactical operation by alerting all relevant police divisions across the state.

He said that the units in Akwanga, Andaha, Garaku, and Kadarko were put on alert to deploy surveillance along strategic routes to track and intercept the fleeing suspects.

Mr Nansel said that the police chief had ordered an intensive statewide manhunt and reaffirmed the command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the victim’s safe rescue and the immediate apprehension of those behind the act.

The spokesperson, therefore, urged the public to provide the police with useful information through the command’s emergency lines: 08036157659, 08037461715, and 07032532391.

(NAN)