In a tragic turn of events, a joyous traditional wedding celebration in Nasarawa State was violently disrupted by armed assailants, resulting in multiple casualties. The Nasarawa State Police Command has confirmed that three individuals lost their lives following the attack in the Akunza Ashige community located within Lafia Local Government Area.
Details of the Nighttime Assault
The incident occurred on the night of Tuesday, December 30, 2025, when unknown gunmen stormed the community where a traditional marriage ceremony was taking place. According to a local youth leader, the assailants opened fire, leading to the immediate death of some attendees and leaving several others with injuries of varying severity.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the state command, SP Ramhan Nansel, issued a statement from Lafia on Wednesday to provide official details. Nansel revealed that the command received a distress call reporting the violent invasion of the village by the unidentified gunmen.
“Upon receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Shetima Jauro-Mohammed, immediately deployed a detachment of Mobile Police personnel and other tactical teams to the area,” the statement read.
Police Response and Casualty Figures
During the emergency response operation, security forces recovered two corpses from the scene. They also successfully rescued nine injured persons, who were promptly rushed to nearby medical facilities for urgent treatment.
SP Nansel provided a grim update on the condition of the wounded, stating, “Unfortunately, one of the injured persons died in the early hours of Wednesday, while others are still receiving treatment.” This brought the final death toll from the attack to three.
Investigation Launched and Appeal for Calm
In response to the heinous act, the Commissioner of Police has extended the command's condolences to the families bereaved by the attack. Furthermore, CP Shetima Jauro-Mohammed has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
The statement detailed that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of operations have been directed to proceed to the area. Their mandate is to “conduct a comprehensive investigation aimed at unraveling the perpetrators of the dastardly act, with a view to ensuring their immediate arrest and prosecution.”
SP Nansel assured residents of Akunza Ashige and surrounding areas that the police are committed to ensuring that all those responsible for the crime are brought to justice. He also urged members of the public to remain calm and continue to support the Police with timely and useful information that could aid the investigation.
