By Nkechi Eze
The Nasarawa State Police Command has foiled an armed robbery attack in Akwanga Local Government Area, arresting two suspects while launching a manhunt for three other members of the gang who escaped during the operation.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, 27 January 2026, when a distress call was received at about 12:10 a.m., reporting that five armed men had invaded a mobile filling station located along the Akwanga–Keffi Road. The assailants reportedly overpowered and tied up the security guard on duty, forcefully gained access into the station’s office, and carted away an unspecified sum of money.
In an official statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Nasarawa State Command, SP Ramhan Nansel, patrol teams attached to the Akwanga Division were immediately deployed to the scene following the distress call.
The swift response by the police led to a hot pursuit of the fleeing suspects, resulting in the arrest of two members of the gang identified as Abdullahi Umar and Yunusa Isiya, both males from Rijiyan Zaki, Kano State. Three other suspects, however, managed to escape in a black Toyota Camry vehicle believed to have been used for the operation.
Items recovered at the scene include three gallons of four-litre Mobil engine oil, a cash sum of ₦418,000, one motorcycle key, and two bags suspected to belong to the suspects.
During interrogation, the arrested suspects reportedly confessed to the crime, stating that they are traders based in Kano State who lost their goods in a motor accident and subsequently resorted to criminal activity in an attempt to survive.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa State Command, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, ordered detectives attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to intensify efforts to track down and arrest the fleeing members of the gang with a view to bringing them to justice.
The Commissioner of Police also reassured residents of Nasarawa State of the Command’s unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property, urging members of the public to continue to support the police with timely and credible information to enhance crime prevention and response.
The arrested suspects are currently in police custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
