Dawn Duel in Mararaba: Police Disrupt Armed Raid on Wine Shop

A high-stakes armed robbery attempt in the early hours of Wednesday morning was successfully dismantled by vigilant officers of the Nasarawa State Police Command. The confrontation, which occurred in the densely populated Mararaba axis of Karu Local Government Area, saw a gang of four criminals forced into a desperate retreat. While the suspects managed to evade immediate capture under the cover of darkness, their hasty exit left behind a critical piece of evidence: a locally fabricated Beretta pistol now in the custody of forensic experts.

The sequence of events began to unfold at approximately 4:20 a.m. when the silence of Calvary Road was shattered by the sounds of a violent intrusion. A group of four armed men had targeted a local wine shop, moving with a level of aggression that left one victim injured during the initial moments of the assault. However, the perpetrators had not accounted for the speed of the local security network. A distress call was placed almost immediately, alerting the Mararaba ‘A’ Division to the unfolding crime.

Displaying a level of tactical urgency that has become a hallmark of the current administration, the police response team arrived at the scene while the robbery was still in full swing. The sight of flashing sirens and the imminent arrival of armed operatives triggered an instant panic among the gang. Recognizing that their window of opportunity had slammed shut, the suspects abandoned their loot and the victim, opting to flee into the labyrinthine alleys of the neighborhood to escape the tightening net.

The recovery of the fabricated Beretta pistol is viewed as a significant win for the command’s anti-proliferation efforts. Locally made firearms of this nature are frequently used in urban crimes due to their concealability and lethal potential. By forcing the suspects to drop the weapon during their flight, the police have effectively removed a dangerous tool of violence from the streets of Karu. The firearm has already been cataloged as a key exhibit for the ongoing criminal inquiry.

In the aftermath of the encounter, the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, has taken a firm stance on the pursuit of the fleeing suspects. The Commissioner has officially ordered an intensive manhunt across the state’s borders, mobilizing intelligence units to track the movement of the four men. To ensure the investigation is handled with the highest level of professional scrutiny, the case has been formally transferred from the divisional level to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lafia.

The transfer to the SCID is a strategic move intended to utilize the department’s advanced profiling and forensic capabilities. Investigators will be looking for links between this specific gang and other unsolved robberies reported in the Karu-Abuja corridor. This region, serving as a gateway to the Federal Capital Territory, often experiences high volumes of transit, making it a frequent target for opportunistic criminal elements looking for quick getaways across state lines.

Public safety remains at the forefront of the command’s agenda. Following the Wednesday morning incident, police spokesperson SP Ramhan Nansel issued a statement reassuring the residents of Mararaba and the wider Karu area of the command’s unwavering commitment to their protection. The police emphasized that the successful disruption of the wine shop robbery was only possible due to the “timely information” provided by a member of the public, highlighting the vital role of community policing.

The victim injured during the raid is currently receiving medical attention, though the extent of the injuries has not been fully disclosed to the public. Police sources indicate that the safety of citizens during such operations remains their primary concern, often dictating the tactical decisions made by officers on the ground. In this instance, the priority was stopping the violence and securing the area, even as the search for the perpetrators moved into a more covert phase.

As the manhunt intensifies, residents are being urged to stay alert and report any suspicious individuals, particularly those seeking medical treatment for unexplained injuries or those appearing in the area without a clear purpose. The Nasarawa State Police Command continues to maintain a high-visibility presence in the Mararaba area to deter any further attempts at coordinated crime. The message from the Commissioner is clear: the state will not be a sanctuary for those who attempt to profit through the barrel of a gun.

The recovery of the pistol and the thwarting of the raid serve as a potent reminder of the thin line between order and chaos in urban centers. With the SCID now leading the charge, the focus shifts toward identifying the craftsmen behind the fabricated weapon and bringing the four fugitives to justice. The resolution of this case is seen as a priority for the command as they look to maintain the momentum of their “Safe Nasarawa” initiative throughout the 2026 calendar year.