A senior civil servant in Nasarawa State has been kidnapped in a brazen attack that has triggered a statewide manhunt. Barrister Yusuf Musa, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and former General Manager of Nasarawa Broadcasting Service (NBS), was seized by suspected gunmen in the early hours of Tuesday, July 15, at his residence in Ungwan Nungu, Lafia.
According to the Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, the incident occurred at approximately 3:05 a.m. Officers responding to a distress call discovered a Peugeot pick‑up van parked outside Musa’s home with all doors ajar. Upon investigating the premises, they realized he had been abducted along with his GMC vehicle (registration KUJ 88 PA) .
In response, the Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, mobilised a coordinated and rapid operation involving multiple units—patrol teams from Lafia Division B, and officers across Akwanga, Andaha, Garaku, and Kadarko divisions. Surveillance checkpoints were also established along strategic routes to prevent the suspects from escaping .
“The command has launched an intensive statewide manhunt and is fully committed to ensuring the safe recovery of the victim and the arrest of the perpetrators,” SP Nansel affirmed .
As of now, no ransom demand has been made public. Residents have been urged to remain calm and vigilant, and to report any information to the nearest police station or the command’s emergency hotlines: 08036157659, 08037461715, and 07032532391 .
This abduction has intensified fears over security in Nasarawa, where kidnapping has become an escalating concern in recent years. The state’s residents and officials alike await swift action from security agencies in ensuring the safe return of Barrister Musa.
