POLICE ARREST 138 SUSPECTS, RESCUE 23 KIDNAP VICTIMS IN ONE WEEK

The Nigeria Police Force has announced the arrest of 138 suspects involved in terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and murder during coordinated operations carried out across the country between July 20 and July 26, 2026.

The Force also disclosed that 23 kidnapped victims were rescued, 31 firearms, including AK-47 rifles and pump-action guns, 99 rounds of live ammunition and 20 vehicles were recovered, while six suspected criminals were killed during armed confrontations with police operatives.

The achievements were recorded through intelligence-driven operations, inter-agency collaboration and tactical deployments under the leadership of the 23rd Indigenous Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.

Among the major operations, police dismantled a notorious interstate kidnapping syndicate operating in Imo and Lagos states. On July 22, operatives of the Imo State Police Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit raided a kidnappers’ hideout in Ogbaku, Mbaitoli Local Government Area, rescuing a victim, Donatus Emehara, also known as “Ehara,” unharmed.

During the operation, two suspected kidnappers, Chinedu Asonna and Chisom Iroche, were killed, while another suspect, Anyanwuocha Stanley, was arrested. Follow-up operations in Lagos led to the killing of three additional members of the gang identified as Ifeanyi, Kelechi Asonna and Chijioke, while the alleged gang leader, Chinonso Izuagu, 41, was taken into custody.

In Ondo State, police arrested three suspected members of an interstate armed robbery syndicate on July 19 after intercepting an ash-coloured Mercedes-Benz ML350. Recovered from the suspects were an AK-47 rifle with 18 rounds of ammunition, a Beretta pistol with four rounds of ammunition, a battle axe and an iron cutter. The suspects reportedly admitted using the weapons to carry out robberies in Lagos and Ondo states.

In Zamfara State, tactical police teams rescued the wife and four children of Bungudu Local Government Chairman, Hon. Nura Umar, after armed bandits attacked his residence on July 25.

The attack claimed the lives of Inspector Bashir Lawal, Police Constable Hamza Mohammed and one Alhaji Nura, while the chairman, his wife, four children and four neighbours were abducted. The attackers also carted away service rifles. Police said efforts are ongoing to rescue the chairman and the remaining abducted victims.

In Delta State, operatives disrupted a cult initiation ceremony in Orogun on July 19 after raiding the gathering. The suspects opened fire on the police before fleeing under pressure.

Items recovered at the scene included a pump-action gun, a locally modified double-barrel gun, seven live cartridges, 12 spent cartridges, six mobile phones, cult-branded jumpsuits and seven abandoned vehicles.

In Kogi State, police rescued six kidnapped travellers after gunmen attacked two vehicles along the Kabba-Ayere Road on July 22. The rescued victims included David Akanbi, 39, while both vehicles involved in the attack were recovered. Police, however, said three passengers were still missing at the time of the report.

The Force also highlighted several other operational successes recorded during the week.

In Benue State, the Inspector-General of Police paid a one-day operational visit to assess and strengthen security operations in the state.

In Nasarawa State, four victims kidnapped near Ever Green, Ombi 1, on July 21 were rescued unharmed two days later and reunited with their families after medical examinations and police debriefing.

In Sokoto State, security operatives repelled a bandit attack on Ayawa village in Tangaza Local Government Area on July 20, recovering 11 stolen cows which were subsequently returned to their owners.

In the Federal Capital Territory, police foiled a kidnap attempt at Brain and Hammers Estate in Dei-Dei on July 20, forcing the armed suspects to flee into a nearby forest with gunshot injuries.

Similarly, in Ogun State, police secured the release of an abducted engineer, Sola Aboyeji, on July 22 following sustained bush-combing operations after he was kidnapped from Lagan Village a day earlier.

The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining nationwide operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks and enhancing public safety. It also urged Nigerians to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies to support ongoing efforts to combat crime.