DSS Arrests Three More Suspects Over Nasarawa University Professor’s Kidnap

The arrested suspects

DSS Arrests Three More Suspects Over Nasarawa University Professor’s Kidnap

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested three additional suspects in connection with the abduction of Professor Samuel Avengbe Okunsebor, Dean of Agriculture at Nasarawa State University. The arrests bring the total number of suspects in custody to five, following intelligence-led operations that also led to the professor’s rescue less than 48 hours after he was taken .

The three suspects were apprehended on Friday night at a local brothel along the Mararraban Akunza axis of the Lafia-Makurdi highway, according to a security source familiar with the operation . The arrests followed sustained intelligence gathering into the kidnapping network responsible for the abduction of the university don. The operation demonstrated the DSS’s commitment to tracking down all members of the criminal syndicate, leaving no stone unturned in the investigation. Security sources have identified the suspects as 25-year-old Yakubu Abubakar (also known as Black or Starboy), who hails from the Doemak community in Plateau State; 37-year-old Usman Abubakar Mairiga, who is Hausa; and 27-year-old Sale Babauro Abubakar, who is Fulani . The suspects are currently in the custody of the DSS Nasarawa State Command for further investigation, with their detention backed by a valid warrant obtained from a magistrate’s court, ensuring that the arrests are legally sound and that the suspects’ rights are respected throughout the legal process.

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Professor Okunsebor was abducted in the early hours of Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at Mile Uku, a border community between Lafia and Nasarawa-Eggon Local Government Areas . Gunmen reportedly stormed the area at midnight and whisked the professor away to an unknown location, sparking immediate concern among the university community and the wider public. Following intelligence-driven operations and sustained surveillance, DSS operatives successfully located and rescued the professor at about 3:00 p.m. on Friday, July 17 – less than 48 hours after his abduction . He was rescued unharmed, a testament to the professionalism and dedication of the security operatives involved in the operation. After the rescue, the DSS formally handed over the professor to his family members in the presence of senior university officials, including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kitso Ngbargu . Professor Okunsebor was subsequently taken to the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital for medical evaluation and routine checks after his time in captivity, ensuring that he received the necessary medical attention following his ordeal.

Two suspects – a man and a woman – were initially arrested during the operation that led to the professor’s rescue . The latest arrests bring the total number of suspects in custody to five, significantly strengthening the case against the kidnapping network. The management of Nasarawa State University expressed profound appreciation to the DSS for what it described as a swift, professional, and successful rescue operation . A senior university official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated: “The university is greatly indebted to the DSS for working round the clock to ensure the timely rescue of our amiable Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture” . The official added: “Given how the DSS has been meticulously prosecuting suspects in courts, we have little doubt that both suspects will soon have their day in court” , reflecting the university’s confidence in the judicial process and the quality of the investigation.

Security sources have confirmed that investigations are ongoing to dismantle the full kidnapping network and determine the roles played by the arrested suspects . Efforts have been intensified to apprehend other members of the criminal syndicate who remain at large, with the DSS continuing to gather intelligence and track down those responsible for the abduction. The successful rescue and series of arrests have been hailed by residents and members of the university community as a major breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping in Nasarawa State . The swift action by security agencies has been widely praised, reinforcing public confidence in the ability of law enforcement to respond to security threats and protect citizens from criminal activities.