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The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State, Philip Shekwo has been kidnapped by gunmen.
Shekwo was kidnapped late Saturday night by armed men who invaded his Lafia residence breaking through the fence.
They were said to have exchanged gunfire with the security detail attached to the APC chairman before whisking him away.
The Commissioner of Police in the state,Bola Longe, who confirmed the incident, said officers have swung into action, searching forests and flashpoints to ensure that Shekwo is rescued.
“We have covered everywhere, we sent our police to comb everywhere. We have done all the necessary things to ensure that he is rescued and by the grace of God he will be rescued,” Longe said.
Nasarawa has witnessed a spike in the kidnapping of prominent individuals recently.
Jibrin Giza, Permanent Secretary in state Ministry of Works was kidnapped in February. He was released after a ransom was paid.
Joseph Masin, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, was kidnapped by gunmen in May, but later regained his freedom after three days.
The governor of the state,Abdullahi Sule recently signed into law the Nasarawa State Kidnapping Prohibition Law 2020, prescribing death penalty for anyone convicted of kidnapping.