The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, on Tuesday disclosed that nationwide anti-crime operations carried out between June 9 and June 21, 2026, led to the arrest of 1,198 suspects for various offences across the country.
According to The Punch, while speaking during the monthly conference with strategic senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja, the IGP said the operations also resulted in the rescue of kidnapped victims and the recovery of firearms, ammunition and stolen vehicles.
He said, “Since 9th June 2026, anti-crime operations across the Federation have led to the arrest of 1,198 suspects for various offences. That figure breaks down as follows: 151 suspects for murder and culpable homicide, 117 for armed robbery, 151 for kidnapping, and 104 suspected cultists.
“A further 169 persons were arrested for unlawful possession of firearms.”
Disu also disclosed that security operatives rescued 166 kidnapped victims during the operations, while recovering a cache of weapons and stolen property.
“Our operations also led to the rescue of 166 kidnap victims. We recovered 166 assorted firearms and 1,475 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, along with 47 stolen vehicles,” Disu said.
The police boss praised officers involved in the operations, noting that the achievements were made possible through their dedication and willingness to face significant risks in the line of duty.
Highlighting notable successes, he described the rescue of abducted students and teachers in Oyo State as a model of effective collaboration among security agencies.
“The successful rescue of the abducted students and teachers in Oyo State deserves particular mention. It is a clear example of what we can achieve when Nigeria’s security agencies work together with a genuine sense of common purpose.
“The operation succeeded because of close collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, other security and intelligence agencies, and members of the public who came forward with timely, credible information,” he said.
Disu commended all personnel who participated in the mission, attributing its success to “careful planning, honest inter-agency cooperation and good intelligence work” that ensured the safe return of the victims.
Despite the recent gains, the IGP cautioned senior officers against becoming complacent, stressing that every operational success should inspire greater commitment.
“A win like this should sharpen our resolve, not soften it. We cannot let a success like Oyo breed complacency. Every achievement should push us to improve further, not to relax,” the IGP cautioned.
He also urged Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police to adopt intelligence-driven policing strategies that reflect the unique security realities within their commands, rather than relying on routine deployments.
“Nigeria’s security environment remains demanding. We have recorded real successes in recent months, but terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, cult-related violence, cybercrime and other organised criminal activity continue to evolve, and we have to evolve faster than they do. Every deployment should be guided by credible intelligence and a sound assessment of the threat, not habit or routine,” Disu said.
The IGP maintained that the effectiveness of police commands would be measured by the security outcomes they achieve, not by the number of operations carried out, and directed all commands to conduct post-operation reviews to strengthen future responses.
“I want to be clear about what success looks like. It is not the number of operations we run. It is the security outcomes those operations produce. I expect every Commissioner of Police to build a command-specific strategy that reflects the realities on the ground in your state… An institution that keeps learning is one that stays effective,” he stressed.
He further appealed to Nigerians to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and credible information that could help prevent crime.
“Lasting security depends on genuine partnership between the police and the communities we serve. I encourage every Nigerian to stay alert and to keep reporting suspicious activity. Every piece of information matters. If you see something, say something,” he said.
