Gunmen have kidnapped Dr. Muhammed Egye Osolafia, Senior Special Assistant on Humanitarian Services to Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State.
The attack took place late Saturday at Tudun Amba in Lafia. Witnesses said the assailants, firing sporadically into the air, seized Osolafia just as he was about to enter his home.
Peter Ahemba, Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Affairs, confirmed the abduction on Sunday, describing it as “sad and unfortunate.”
The incident comes amid a surge in kidnappings across Lafia and other parts of Nasarawa, despite repeated police crackdowns. Governor Sule had recently warned senior officials against using their influence to secure the release of suspected kidnappers, underscoring the government’s difficulty in curbing the menace.
Security analysts link the wave of abductions to displaced persons moving into the state from areas ravaged by banditry, as well as the ongoing military offensive in neighbouring Benue State, which has pushed criminal groups across state lines.
The rising insecurity has had a chilling effect on daily life. In some communities, businesses now close early, with residents retreating indoors by nightfall for fear of abduction.
