Two police officers have been killed while four suspected kidnappers were arrested following a confrontation between the police and kidnappers in Plateau State.
The spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Alabo Alfred, confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday.
According to Alfred, the incident occurred along Little Rayfield Road in Jos, where the kidnappers had attempted to abduct their victims.
He identified the deceased officers as Fatoyo Femi and Inspector Dafur Dashit, who were part of a special team deployed from Abuja to assist in combating kidnapping in the state.
“The Plateau State Police Command wishes to inform the general public of the arrest of four (4) suspected kidnappers in the recent foiled kidnapping incident that took place along Little Rayfield Road, Jos.
“However, two (2) of our officers, namely Fatoyo Femi and Inspr Dafur Dashit, attached to the Force Investigation Department, Abuja (IRT), who were on special duty in Jos, lost their lives during the exchange of gunfire with the suspected kidnappers,” the PPRO stated.
Appealing for calm over the incident, the statement added, “The case is under investigation. Further developments will be communicated to you in due course.”
The Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, Emmanuel Olugbemiga Adesina, also urged residents to remain calm, assuring them that the situation was under control.
“In case of emergency, citizens of Plateau State are encouraged to call the following GSM numbers: 07059473022, 08038907662, 08075391844, 09053872296,” Alfred added.
Gunmen kidnap two Benue varsity students
In a related development, two students of the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Benue State, were abducted by some gunmen in the late hours of Tuesday outside the university’s campus.
It was gathered in a telephone conversation with a student of the institution on Wednesday, Ashar Lubem, that four students were kidnapped by the gunmen.
He added that there was panic among the students following the incident.
Lubem said, “Some gunmen kidnapped four students outside campus yesterday evening. We have yet to hear from them.
“Everyone is in a panic mood because of the incident.”
In a telephone conversation on Wednesday, the Benue Police Public Relations Officer, Sewuese Anene, confirmed the incident and noted that an investigation had commenced.
Meanwhile, she stressed that the Command only received a report of two students being kidnapped.
“We received the information yesterday evening that two students were kidnapped. We have commenced an investigation, and further details will be provided soon,” Anene said.
Consequently, the management of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University of Agriculture, Makurdi, formerly known as the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, has ordered the closure of the institution.
This was contained in an internal memo titled “Security Situation on Campus”, issued on Wednesday and signed by the Registrar, Dr John David.
The institution confirmed the abduction of three students by unknown armed men at around 8:00 pm on Tuesday between Zamfara Hostel and Ring Road in North Core.
The university management condemned the incident, stating that the government and security agencies had been informed of the unfortunate event.
Postponing the inaugural lecture scheduled for Wednesday indefinitely, the management directed students to vacate their hostels to allow the school authorities to address the security concerns on campus.
“That university management, in solidarity with the students and parents of the abducted students, has granted a one-week mid-semester break to all students to adequately address the security challenges on campus.
“Consequently, all students are to vacate their hostels before 4:00 pm today, February 26, 2025.”
A senior staff member of the university, who requested anonymity, had earlier confirmed the abduction of the female students on campus.
He said, “The students were going to read that night when they were kidnapped between their hostels and the reading point at North Core.”
It was gathered that the abduction of the students in the early hours of Wednesday triggered protests, with students marching around the campus, demanding that the school authorities ensure the rescue of their colleagues.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Benue State Command, Chief Superintendent of Police Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident.
Anene said, “We received information that two students were kidnapped by unknown gunmen. An investigation is ongoing.”