Police arrest 262 suspects, rescue 27 kidnapped victims

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The Nigeria Police Force arrested 262 suspects and rescued 27 kidnapped victims during various operations across the country between September 5 and 11, 2026.

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The suspects were arrested for offences including kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, banditry, cultism, human trafficking, drug peddling, vandalism and other criminal activities.

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The Force also recovered 34 firearms, 375 rounds of live ammunition and 11 vehicles, while 11 armed suspects were neutralised during the operations.

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The figures were contained in the weekly operational briefing of the Nigeria Police Force on Sunday by the force spokesman, Ani Iniedu.

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According to him, the operations were conducted through intelligence-led tactical operations and in collaboration with local communities and other security agencies.

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He said the country recorded 50 homicide incidents, 28 armed robbery incidents, 10 cultism incidents, eight gender-based violence incidents, 27 kidnapping incidents, 22 banditry incidents and five terrorism incidents during the period under review.

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Iniedu said, “Through intelligence-led tactical operations, the Force made a total of 262 high-profile arrests of criminal suspects involved in offences including kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, banditry, cult-related activities, human trafficking, drug peddling, vandalism, and other criminal activities.

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“The Force also successfully rescued 27 kidnapped victims, recovered 34 firearms, 375 rounds of live ammunition, 11 vehicles, and neutralised 11 armed suspects in various operations across the country.

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“In addition, the country recorded 50 incidents of homicide, 28 incidents of armed robbery, 10 incidents of cultism, eight incidents of gender-based violence, 27 incidents of kidnapping, 22 incidents of banditry, and five incidents of terrorism during the week under review.”

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Giving details of some of the operations, the spokesman said operatives in Delta State rescued a 60-year-old kidnapped victim, Nduka Omoyi, unharmed following a gun duel with his abductors in Alisime Village, Agbor.

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He said the operation was conducted by a joint team comprising locals, forest guards and divisional crack operatives, following geo-spatial intelligence.

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In the Federal Capital Territory, Iniedu said detectives arrested a suspect following an armed invasion of a residence in Pegi, during which the victim’s wife was allegedly raped and valuables, including a gold necklace, ring and electric generator, were stolen.

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He said the suspect was assisting investigators in identifying and arresting his fleeing accomplices.

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In Kwara State, he said two men wanted for alleged kidnapping and banditry were arrested in Baruten Local Government Area.

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He said N770,000 cash, two smartphones, a local charm, a bulletproof vest and a power bank were recovered from the suspects, who were temporarily handed over to military authorities over their alleged involvement in a recent attack in Niger State.

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Similarly, he said operatives in Nasarawa State engaged suspected armed robbers who allegedly opened fire on them after abandoning a stolen motorcycle at a checkpoint in Uluji Village, Keana Local Government Area.

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Two of the suspects were injured, and a pump-action rifle was recovered, while another suspect was arrested separately for allegedly participating in the robbery.

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In Kaduna State, he said operatives, working with vigilantes and local hunters, raided suspected bandit camps in Auchanawa and Wambai, Ikara Local Government Area.

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The operation led to the neutralisation of two suspects and the rescue of two kidnapped victims.

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“However, three local hunters supporting the operation were fatally shot, while another sustained a gunshot injury,” he added.

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