Armed gunmen abduct member of Plateau State House of Assembly as banditry spreads to Middle Belt

ARMED gunmen have abducted the lawmaker representing the Pankshin South constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly Hon Laven Jacob in what appears to be a major escalation of banditry across northern Nigeria.

Over recent years, armed bandits have operated with impunity across northern Nigeria, especially in the northwest geo-political zones where they control large swathes of territory in Katsina, Kaduna and Zamfara States. It now appears that this malaise is spreading to the north central geo-political zone as on Sunday, two women kidnapped in Nasarawa State with their abductors demanding a N50m ransom fee and now this development in neighbouring Plateau State.

On Monday night, Hon Jacob was abducted from his residence in the Angwan Kaji area of Dong, in Jos North Local Government Area. Apparently the kidnappers ambushed him at the entrance of his home and whisked him away to an unknown destination.

Police spokesman Alfred Alabo, said: “The command received a report on 22/09/2025, that one Danti Laven Jacob was intercepted by unknown hoodlums while driving into his house at about 8pm and was abducted to an unknown destination. On receipt of the report, the divisional police officer (DPO) in charge of Rantya Division and the officer in charge of the anti-kidnapping unit, Jos, mobilised to the scene and are currently combing the bushes to rescue the victim.

“The commissioner of police, Emmanuel Adesina, has directed the area commander, Bukuru, to deploy all DPOs and tactical/patrol teams within the metropolis to join in the ongoing operation, and ensure safe rescue of the victim.”

On the kidnapping in Nasarawa State, one source close to the family of the women said they were being subjected to unbearable suffering since they were abducted. According to the source, a pastor’s wife who was kidnapped, alongside a member of her church, is a breast feeding mother of a three-month old baby, so is currently traumatised, given her present post-natal condition.     

He added: “She is seriously worried over her health and detachment from her three-month old baby. The harsh treatment, coupled with exposure to unfriendly habitation she finds herself in under her captors, is a big threat to her survival.

In another development, Dr Muhammed Egye Osolafia, the special assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Humanitarian Service, has been released by his abductors. He was abducted from his residence in the Tudun Amba area of Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital on Saturday night but was released 24 hours later, with it believed that a ransom fee was paid.

Meanwhile, in a related matter, three Nigerian Army soldiers have been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of selling arms to criminals and terrorists, with a fourth troops receiving 15 years. A special court-martial  sentenced them for carrying out the crime, which took place over a two year period.

Delivering judgment, the president of the court martial, Brigadier Mohammed Abdullahi, sentenced Raphael Ameh, a sergeant; Ejiga Musa, a sergeant and Patrick Ocheje, a lance corporal, to life imprisonment, while Omitoye Rufus, a corporal, was handed a 15-year jail term, after they pleaded guilty to several charges. Their offences range from theft, unlawful dealing in ammunition, offences in relation to service property as well as aiding the enemy.

In the case of Sergeant Ameh, documentary evidence revealed that as an armourer with the Seventh Division Garrison, he conspired with late Lance Corporal Ogbogo Isaac to pilfer ammunition from the arms store. He then collaborated with one Inspector Francis Ajayi and Francis Manasseh, both of the 30 Police Mobile Force to conceal arms in bags of beans which they smuggled to Enugu and Ebonyi states for use by criminals.

Sergeant Ameh received the proceeds of this illicit trade through over 100 bank transactions between July 2022 and June 2024. In the case of all four soldiers, the court held that their illicit trade directly endangered troops and imperilled military operations and national security, which amounted to aiding the enemy.