The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 50 suspects and recovered a cache of high-grade weapons linked to violent crimes across the country.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Okon Placid, disclosed this during a press briefing on Monday at the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team headquarters in Guzape, Abuja.
He said the police nationwide crackdown, carried out between January and April 2026, targeted gunrunning syndicates, kidnappers, armed robbers, and other criminal elements operating in several states.
Seven operations yield major breakthrough
According to Placid, seven major operations under the police nationwide crackdown led to the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of 17 rifles, 111 rounds of live ammunition, 17 cartridges, multiple magazines, three vehicles, and communication devices.
He described the achievements as a reflection of renewed security efforts under the IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, noting the Force’s commitment to combating crime and ensuring public safety.
Arrests across states uncover criminal networks
In one case, operatives arrested Musa Jibrin for conspiracy and unlawful possession of firearms, linking him to a gun supply network.
In Benue State, four suspected robbers were apprehended for mounting fake checkpoints to rob motorists, with police uniforms and weapons recovered.
Similarly, four suspects were arrested along the Dei Dei–Kubwa Expressway in Abuja for alleged involvement in “one chance” robbery, abduction, and attempted murder.
Police recovered a vehicle, mobile phones, and cash tied to victims.
Suspects bust in Kwara, Kogi
In Taraba State, three suspects were arrested over the killing of three policemen in Donga Local Government Area, with an AK-47 rifle recovered during the operation.
The most significant breakthrough in the police nationwide crackdown involved the arrest of 33 suspected members of a notorious criminal network operating across Kwara State and Kogi State.
Police said the suspects were linked to terrorism, kidnapping, cattle rustling, armed robbery, homicide, and arms trafficking.
The operation followed investigations into an attack on a church in November 2025.
Raids conducted in multiple communities led to the recovery of seven AK-47 rifles, magazines, an anti-aircraft launcher, ammunition, and communication devices.
Some weapons were reportedly abandoned by fleeing suspects.
Police vow sustained offensive
Additional arrests were made in separate operations, including a suspect linked to illegal arms procurement in Benue and another apprehended in Abuja for car burglary using a fabricated master key.
Placid assured that all suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations, while efforts continue to apprehend fleeing accomplices.
He reiterated that the police nationwide crackdown will be sustained through improved intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration.
“With sustained efforts and public cooperation, we are confident that our operations will continue to yield results and contribute to a safer and more secure Nigeria,” he stated.
