A newly posted Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to the Pankshin Division in Pankshin Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State has been kidnapped by armed bandits.

The officer was said to have been kidnapped a few days after he resumed work at the division, according to Vanguard.

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The name of the said officer could not be ascertained at press time as the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Alfred Alabo, was not available for official confirmation.

However, a resident of Pankshin who did not want to be named disclosed that kidnapping has been rife in the local community in recent times and everyone lives in fear.

“The incident happened close to our house, as we just ended our night prayers with my family, we heard gunshots, we tried to find out what was happening and we learned that some armed men went to Woktori hotel,” the resident said.

“It was this morning that we got to know that it was the kidnappers that kidnapped the newly posted DPO in Pankshin. We’ learnt that the man just came and was lodged in the hotel when they came to kidnap him.

“There has been a spike in the incidents of kidnapping recently. Some business people with fancy houses have been targeted, they would be kidnapped, they will pay the ransom, and be released. One was even killed.

“The staff of the federal government institution here is not spared. Virtually every week, you will hear of one incident, once they know you are rich, they will come to the house.

“Everyone is living in fear even this night between 7 and 8 pm, there were still gunshots but we don’t know where or what it is. It is becoming rampant and we are getting used to it. By tomorrow we will hear what caused it. The DPO is very new, we don’t know him because he just resumed duty,” the resident said.

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