The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested 35 suspects, rescued seven kidnapped victims, and recovered 13 firearms since January 2026.
Commissioner of Police Shettima Jauro Mohamed made the disclosure during an inspection tour by the Coordinating Deputy Inspector General of Police for the North Central Zone, DIG Isyaku Mohammed.
CP Mohamed who received the Coordinating DIG at the Command headquarters in Lafia, described the visit as “timely and significant,” saying it provided an opportunity to present the state’s security situation and receive strategic guidance on policing and service delivery.
The CP noted that Nasarawa occupies a strategic position in the North Central region as it shares boundaries with the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as well as Kaduna, Plateau, Niger and Taraba states.
“Its proximity to the nation’s capital, coupled with its vast forest reserves, rough terrain and extensive road network, present both social and economic opportunities and unique security challenges,” Mohamed said.
According to the CP, the command continues to contend with several evolving threats. These include kidnapping and abduction along the “Santa Highway” at night and in some isolated communities, although he noted that such incidents have been significantly reduced through sustained operations.
Other threats, he said, include armed robbery targeting commuters and residents, cattle rustling and related communal conflicts in rural areas, illegal possession and proliferation of firearms, activities of criminal gangs operating within forested and border communities, and the movement of criminal elements through interstate routes linking Nasarawa with neighbouring astates and the FCT.
He noted that the command has reviewed and strengthened its strategies through intelligence-led policing, community engagement, enhanced surveillance, and coordinated tactical operations to ride the state of crime and criminalities.
The CP said the command is intensifying activities across areas designated as flashpoints based on crime mapping and threat assessments.
He listed 10 critical flashpoints now receiving enhanced security coverage including Gudi Axis and adjoining communities; Lafia-Akwanga Road Corridor; Akwanga-Jos Road; Doma-Rukubi Road Axis; Lafia-Makurdi Road Corridor; Inde Hills Axis in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area; Garaku-Keffi Road Corridor in Kokona LGA; Akwanga Forest Axis in Obi and Keana LGAs; Ajimaka, Gidanrai and Ambaka communities in Doma and Wamba LGAs; and Konfu-Gwaiaka Area of Assakio in Lafia East Development Area respectively.
“The locations continue to receive enhanced security coverage owing to their strategic importance and vulnerability to criminal activities,” he said
He said to dominate the flashpoints, the command has deployed conventional and tactical assets. These include stop and search points at Gudi Community covering the Nasarawa State University Faculty of Engineering Gudi Campus and Police Secondary School Gudi; Azuba Center along the Lafia-Akwanga Road; Doma-Rukubi Road; and Tipa Garage along the Lafia-Makurdi Road.
“Tactical pin downs have also been established. They include a Police Mobile Force pin down near Inde Hills along the Lafia-Akwanga Road, a keeping point at Angwan Gimba Kuberi along the Garaku-Keffi Road, Operation Nasarawa pin down at Akwanga Forest along the Lafia-Makurdi Road, and a stop and search pin down at Gudi Water Board along the Akwanga-Keffi and Akwanga-Jos Roads.
“Strategic deployments are ongoing in Ajimaka, Gidanrai and Ambaka communities in Doma and Wamba LGAs, and in Galle and Koyangana areas of Assakio in Lafia East.
“To secure major highways and deny criminals freedom of movement, Safer Highway Patrol Teams now operate on a 24-hour basis along Doma Road, Makurdi Road, Shendam Road, Akwanga-Jos Road, Gudi-Keffi Road, Keffi-Abuja Road, and other key axes. The patrols are supported by intelligence gathering and rapid response mechanisms,” he explained.
