The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a series of operational successes across several states of the federation within the last 24 hours, including the rescue of kidnap victims, arrests of murder, cultism and armed robbery suspects, as well as the recovery of firearms and ammunition.
According to a state-by-state operational summary released by the Force Headquarters on Saturday, police tactical teams, working with other security agencies and local security operatives, disrupted criminal activities in Zamfara, Enugu, Benue, Bauchi, Ekiti, Imo, Katsina and Delta states.
In Zamfara State, police tactical teams engaged armed bandits during pursuit operations, leading to the successful rescue of five kidnap victims comprising the wife of a community chairman and her four children. The victims have since been reunited with their family, while joint security operations are continuing to rescue the remaining abductees and recover police rifles stolen during the attack.
In Enugu State, community security operatives on patrol engaged suspected members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN in a gun duel, resulting in the neutralisation of one suspect. In a separate incident, police arrested three suspects over an attempted child theft case, with investigations ongoing.
The Force also recorded breakthroughs in homicide investigations. In Benue State, police arrested two suspects linked to a fatal stabbing incident, while another suspect was apprehended for allegedly murdering his father. Similarly, in Bauchi State, officers responded swiftly to a stabbing incident, arrested the principal suspect and launched a manhunt for an accomplice who fled the scene.
In Ekiti State, police rescued two suspected armed robbers from mob action before taking them into custody for investigation. Officers also recovered a vehicle believed to have been used in their operations.
In Imo State, operatives arrested seven suspected cult members during stop-and-search operations. Recovered from the suspects were a locally fabricated pistol, one live cartridge and hard drugs. Police said the suspects confessed to cult-related activities, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the gang.
In Katsina State, police recovered an abandoned AK-47 rifle, three rounds of live ammunition and an operational motorcycle after suspected bandits fled on sighting security operatives. Visibility patrols have since been intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
Meanwhile, in Delta State, intelligence-led and routine patrol operations led to the arrest of two suspects in separate incidents involving illegal possession of firearms. Officers recovered a Beretta pistol from one suspect and a cut-to-size single-barrel gun from another.
The Nigeria Police Force said investigations into all the cases are being handled by the respective State Criminal Investigation Departments (SCIDs), while reaffirming its commitment to protecting lives and property through sustained intelligence-led policing and collaboration with other security stakeholders.
