Nasarawa Police Clash With Gunmen In Fiery Showdown At Tribune Editor’s Home ‘Third Kidnapping Attempt In Three Months’
In a dramatic turn of events, Nasarawa State’s anti-kidnapping squad successfully thwarted a kidnapping attempt on the family of Dr. Leon Usigbe, the Abuja Bureau Chief of the Nigerian Tribune, early Monday morning.
The incident occurred around 12:50 AM at Dr. Usigbe’s residence on Kurape Road in Karshi, near the Federal Capital Territory.
Reports indicate that the attackers shot and wounded a neighborhood vigilante on guard before one of them managed to scale the perimeter fence and unlock the gate, allowing the rest of the gang to infiltrate the compound.
The assailants vandalized windows with stones and attempted to force open both the front and back doors, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Fortunately, the anti-kidnapping squad, which had been recently deployed in response to a rise in abduction incidents in the area, arrived swiftly after being alerted.
A shootout ensued, resulting in injuries to three soldiers; however, the squad managed to repel the attackers, compelling them to retreat.
Dr. Usigbe was not at home during the attack, but his wife and children were present and left shaken by the experience.
This marks the third attempted kidnapping in the vicinity in just three months, with two other families having previously paid ransoms for the safe return of abducted relatives.
Kidnapping and banditry have become pressing concerns in states surrounding Abuja, including Nasarawa. In response, authorities have ramped up efforts to combat these crimes, achieving notable successes, including the arrest of two suspects linked to kidnapping and banditry operations across Nasarawa, Taraba, and Plateau States