BREAKING: DSS Arrests Three More Suspects Over Kidnap of Nasarawa Varsity Professor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested three additional suspects allegedly linked to the kidnapping of Professor Samuel Avengbe Okunsebor, Dean of Agriculture at Nasarawa State University.

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested three more persons suspected of belonging to the criminal gang that allegedly abducted a professor of Nasarawa State University.

The suspects were reportedly arrested on Friday night at a local brothel along the Mararraban Akunza axis of the Lafia–Makurdi highway in Nasarawa State.

A security source disclosed that the arrests followed ongoing investigations into the July abduction of Professor Samuel Avengbe Okunsebor, who was kidnapped in the early hours of Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

The university don, who serves as the Dean of Agriculture at Nasarawa State University, was abducted at Mile Uku, a border community between Lafia and Nasarawa-Eggon Local Government Areas.

He was subsequently rescued by DSS operatives two days after his abduction.

At the time of the rescue operation, two suspects, including a woman, were reportedly arrested by the security agency in connection with the incident.

According to the security source, the latest operation led to the arrest of three other alleged members of the kidnapping network.

The source identified them as 25-year-old Yakubu Abubakar, also known as Black or Starboy; 37-year-old Usman Abubakar Mairiga; and 27-year-old Sale Babauro Abubakar.

The source said Abubakar is from the Doemak community in Plateau State, while Mairiga and Sale Babauro Abubakar were described as Hausa and Fulani respectively.

The suspects were reportedly taken into DSS custody following their arrest.

The security source said the suspects are being held at the DSS State Command for further investigation.

According to the source, their continued detention was authorised by a magistrate’s court through a valid detention warrant.

The arrests are expected to form part of the ongoing investigation into the kidnapping of Professor Okunsebor and the wider activities of the suspected criminal network.

Authorities have not publicly disclosed the full details of the investigation or stated whether additional arrests are expected.

Professor Okunsebor was reportedly kidnapped in the early hours of July 15 at Mile Uku, an area located between Lafia and Nasarawa-Eggon.

His abduction sparked a security operation that culminated in his rescue two days later.

The initial operation also resulted in the arrest of two suspects, including a female suspect, according to the information provided by security sources.

The latest arrests suggest that investigators are continuing efforts to identify and apprehend other people allegedly connected to the kidnapping.

The suspects remain allegations at this stage and are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless convicted by a competent court.