NIGERIA: Police Dismantle Criminal Syndicate, Recover Firearms, Rescue Victims

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced that a total of 134 firearms and 1,012 rounds of ammunition have been recovered, alongside the rescue of 302 kidnapped victims.

The Force also disclosed the arrest of hundreds of criminal suspects, reflecting its commitment to safeguarding lives and property.

In a press briefing held at the Force Intelligence Department-Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) headquarters on Wednesday, the Police highlighted its successes.

Among the notable achievements were the arrests of 179 armed robbery suspects, 100 kidnapping suspects, 152 homicide suspects, 34 individuals linked to unlawful possession of firearms, 77 rape suspects, and 110 suspected cultists.

Additionally, 73 firearms, 310 rounds of ammunition, and 56 stolen vehicles were recovered, while 22 kidnapping victims were rescued.

One of the high-profile arrests involved a syndicate led by Muhammed Kabir, 36, along with his accomplices, Donald Okpere and Haruna Ibrahim. The gang specialized in impersonating military personnel to defraud victims, using fake bank alerts to purchase gadgets and medical equipment worth millions of naira.

Another major success was the apprehension of a gang notorious for stealing motorcycles from farmers in Lagos and Ogun States. The suspects, including Sunday Okwo Ade, Monday Solomon, David Emmanuel, and Shakiru Badmus, had 15 motorcycles recovered from them.

Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, reaffirmed the Force’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property. “We remain steadfast in ensuring the safety and security of Nigerians and creating an environment where the public can go about their daily activities peacefully,” he said.

The IGP emphasized that the Police would not relent in its pursuit of justice and vowed to bring all criminal elements to book, in line with the laws of the land.