Over 1,100 suspects arrested in two-week police crackdown

Police across Nigeria have arrested nearly 1,200 suspects and rescued 166 kidnap victims during a two-week nationwide operation targeting violent crime.

Speaking at a monthly conference with senior officers in Abuja on Tuesday, Inspector General of Police Olatunji Disu revealed that anti-crime operations conducted between 9 June and 21 June led to 1,198 arrests across the country.

The suspects face charges spanning murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of firearms.

Seizures and rescues

In addition to the arrests, police operatives recovered illegal weapons, stolen vehicles, and heavy ammunition:

• Suspect Breakdown: 151 arrested for murder, 151 for kidnapping, 117 for armed robbery, 104 for suspected cultism, and 169 for unlawful possession of firearms.
• Rescues: 166 kidnapped victims brought to safety.
• Recoveries: 166 assorted firearms, 1,475 rounds of ammunition, and 47 stolen vehicles seized.

Mr Disu singled out the successful rescue of abducted students and teachers in Oyo State as a benchmark for inter-agency security cooperation, praising joint efforts between the police, armed forces, and members of the public who provided credible intelligence.

Shift to intelligence-led policing

Despite recent operational breakthroughs, the police chief warned senior command officers against complacency, urging them to adapt to evolving security threats.

He instructed Assistant Inspectors-General and State Commissioners of Police to move away from routine deployments in favor of threat-informed, intelligence-driven strategies.

“Nigeria’s security environment remains demanding,” Mr Disu said, emphasizing that performance will be measured strictly by security outcomes rather than the total number of operations conducted.

He urged citizens to maintain active partnerships with law enforcement agencies by reporting suspicious activities within their communities.

IGP Olatunji Disu Calls For Transparent Public Communication This video is relevant as it features Inspector General of Police Olatunji Disu speaking on the importance of public trust, intelligence, and transparent communication between citizens and the Nigeria Police Force.