Adedokun Waliyu 
According to a family member who confirmed the incident to The PUNCH, the kidnappers broke through the fence, accessed his house through his wife’s window, and took him away.
Some yet-to-be-identified gunmen on Friday morning kidnapped a former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Professor Onje Gye-Wado during an invasion of his community in the Wamba Local Government Area of the state.
According to a family member who confirmed the incident to The PUNCH, the kidnappers broke through the fence, accessed his house through his wife’s window, and took him away.
“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.
Professor Onje Gye-Wado, who served as Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State from 1999 to 2003, had narrowly escaped kidnap attempts.
Similarly, in a statement made available to newsmen in Lafia on Friday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the former deputy governor’s abduction.
The police said they were making efforts to rescue him unharmed.
The statement 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 urged the public to provide useful information that could assist them in their rescue efforts.
