The Nigeria Police Force says its operatives have arrested several suspects, rescued kidnapped victims and recovered firearms, ammunition, vehicles and other criminal exhibits in operations conducted across 11 states.
The operations, carried out between September 12 and 15, 2026, also resulted in the recovery of illicit drugs, motorcycles, ransom money, mobile phones and other items linked to criminal activities.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the police, working alongside other security agencies, had intensified operations against criminal elements across the country.
In Kebbi State, police and military personnel conducted a clearance operation in Gumki Village, Arewa Local Government Area, where one suspected terrorist was killed.
Iniedu said the operation led to the recovery of a PKT rifle with 174 rounds of live ammunition, an AK-47 rifle with 14 rounds of ammunition, four motorcycles and mobile phones.
In Katsina State, two women abducted from Sha’Iskawa Fulani Village in Kankia Local Government Area were rescued unharmed after security operatives engaged their abductors in a gun battle.
The police spokesman said, “The operatives successfully overpowered the assailants, forcing them to abandon the two victims and flee into the bush with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.”
The victims were subsequently rescued without injuries.
Three suspected members of an armed robbery gang were also arrested in Ogun State over alleged attacks in Agbado and neighbouring communities. Police said three expanded cartridges were recovered from the suspects, while the State Criminal Investigation Department in Abeokuta took over the investigation.
In Akwa Ibom, six suspected armed robbers were apprehended following investigations into alleged criminal activities in Ikono, Ini and Obot Akara LGAs.
The police said two single-barrel guns, a motorcycle, three laptops and other exhibits were recovered.
A suspected bandit informant was arrested in Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto State by technical operatives. The suspect was allegedly found with ₦900,000 said to have been collected as part of a levy imposed on a community.
According to the police, “The suspect is providing useful information to aid the arrest of other gang members.”
In Delta State, seven suspects were arrested during a raid on a criminal hideout in Ukwuani LGA.
The operation yielded a locally fabricated single-barrel firearm, a live cartridge, illicit drugs, a battle axe, mobile phones and a laptop, according to the Force.
Similarly, police in Ekiti State arrested a suspected kidnapper and fraudster during a night operation along the Ekiti State University/Osekita Road.
The police recovered a Toyota Venza valued at ₦10.5m, 255 SIM cards, four mobile phones, an international passport, tramadol and other exhibits.
In Rivers State, operatives arrested a suspect who had been on the run at his hideout in Bonny following a manhunt.
A Beretta pistol, which the suspect had allegedly abandoned earlier, was recovered during the operation.
The Force also reported the rescue of a kidnapped victim around Arabu Forest in Makarfi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The police said the victim was medically examined before being reunited with family members.
In Kogi State, joint security operatives arrested a suspected kidnapper following an attack on a vehicle along the Okene/Ogori-Magongo-Lagos Highway.
The suspect was apprehended during a follow-up operation in a nearby forest, with some exhibits recovered.
In Jigawa State, police arrested a suspect over the alleged rape of an eight-year-old girl in Ringim Local Government Area.
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Dutse for further investigation.
Meanwhile, 10 suspects were arrested during separate raids on criminal hideouts in Aniocha North and Oshimili North Local Government Areas of Delta State between September 12 and 13.
The police said the raids resulted in the recovery of two locally made firearms, illicit drugs, cannabis-related items and other illegal exhibits.
The Force said investigations into the various cases were ongoing at the respective State Criminal Investigation Departments, while efforts were being made to apprehend other suspects connected to the crimes.
