Professor Onje Gye-Wado, a former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, has been kidnapped by gunmen who allegedly invaded his community, Gwagi, in the state’s Wamba Local Government Area in the early hours of Friday.
According to a family member who confirmed the incident, the kidnappers gained entry through the fence, broke into his house through his wife’s window, and whisked him away to an unknown destination.
“His wife came in for Easter celebration and they broke into the house through her widow and took him away to an unknown destination. We are hoping that the security agencies will make efforts towards rescuing him unhurt,” the source said.
Gye-Wado, who served as Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State from 1999 to 2003, had narrowly avoided kidnapping on several occasions before the tragic incident today.
In a statement made available to journalists in Lafia on Friday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the former deputy governor’s kidnapping and said the police command was making efforts to rescue him unharmed.
He said, “Information received by the command indicated that on 7/4/2023 around 12:30 am, unknown gunmen invaded Gwagi village in Wamba LGA, broke into the residence of one Prof. Onje Gye-wado and abducted him to an unknown destination.
“Upon receipt of the information, Police operatives attached to Wamba Division swiftly moved to the scene, but the hoodlums had fled with the victim before their arrival.
“The Commissioner of Police, Maiyaki Baba, further mobilised and deployed reinforcement comprising Police tactical teams, military, vigilante, and local hunters to complement the ongoing search to rescue the hostage, hale and hearty and arrest the perpetrators of the act.”
The police spokesperson further appealed to members of the public to assist the command with useful information that could help in the quick rescue of the former deputy governor.