Police operatives in Nigeria recovered 360 firearms, 5,953 live rounds, and arrested 5,936 suspects in nationwide raids against violent crimes.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has achieved a major breakthrough in its nationwide security operations for August, arresting a total of 5,936 criminal suspects and recovering 360 prohibited firearms alongside 5,953 rounds of live ammunition.
The operations were part of a sustained effort to curb violent crimes, combat gunrunning, and dismantle networks involved in the proliferation of illegal arms across the country.
The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed these statistics on Wednesday while briefing reporters at the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) base in Guzape, Abuja.
According to him, the arrests were carried out by operatives of the IRT and other specialized units of the Force, highlighting a coordinated approach to tackling security challenges nationwide.
“The Nigeria Police Force is committed to ensuring that every Nigerian can live, work, and move about freely and safely,” DCP Adejobi said.
“Our intensified operations demonstrate the Force’s determination to remove criminal elements from society and safeguard the lives and property of citizens.”
The arrests encompass a wide spectrum of criminal activities.
Among the suspects are 715 individuals accused of armed robbery, 306 alleged kidnappers, 533 homicide suspects, 149 charged for unlawful possession of firearms, 371 suspects involved in sexual-related offences, 590 suspected cultists, and 3,272 others detained for various criminal offenses.
DCP Adejobi highlighted several prominent cases during the briefing.
One notable arrest involved Jane Anodua in Rivers State, who was allegedly implicated in child trafficking activities initially reported by the Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs.
The intervention led to the rescue of four children, two of whom had reportedly been trafficked from Plateau State to Imo State.
In another major operation, a suspected gunrunner identified as Tanfa Binbol was apprehended on July 13.
Binbol was allegedly operating between Taraba and Plateau States, and a search of his premises yielded three AK-47 rifles, five pistols, and a pump-action rifle.
Similarly, on July 27, police operatives arrested Jerauji Ibrahim in Adamawa State, recovering two AK-47 rifles, two magazines, and 19 rounds of live ammunition.
Further operations resulted in the recovery of additional rifles, pistols, and ammunition from multiple criminal hideouts across the country.
These arrests and recoveries, DCP Adejobi noted, are part of a broader strategy spearheaded by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, aimed at maintaining law and order, preventing violent crime, and boosting public confidence in the police.
“The success of these operations demonstrates the unwavering dedication of the Nigeria Police Force to ensuring that Nigerians can go about their daily lives without fear or threat,” he said.
The Force emphasized that its operations will continue across the nation, targeting criminal networks, dismantling illegal arms syndicates, and arresting individuals involved in violent and organized crimes.
By doing so, the NPF seeks to create a secure environment conducive to economic growth, social stability, and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.