Police Arrest 112 Suspects in 24 Hours Across 13 States, FCT

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 112 suspects in coordinated operations carried out across 13 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) within the last 24 hours, while also recovering firearms, ammunition and a stolen vehicle, rescuing two kidnapped victims and neutralising a suspected kidnapper.

The operational update, contained in the Police Daily Situation Report issued on Saturday by the Office of the Force Public Relations Officer, showed that the operations targeted cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping, homicide, gender-based violence, banditry and drug-related crimes.

According to the report, the police recorded six homicide cases, three incidents each of armed robbery, cultism, gender-based violence and banditry, as well as two kidnapping incidents during the period under review.

The FCT Command accounted for the highest number of arrests after operatives from 11 police divisions conducted coordinated raids on criminal hideouts, uncompleted buildings and other black spots across Abuja.

The report said the operation, which covered Lokogoma, Byazhin, Jikwoyi, Karmo, Nyanya, Karu, Kurudu, Zuba, Gwagwalada, Kwali and Bwari divisions, led to the arrest of 87 suspects.

Police also recovered quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, other illicit drugs and knives during the raids.

In Delta State, intelligence-led operations resulted in the arrest of eight suspected members of a violent secret cult during a raid in Amukpe, Sapele Local Government Area.

Officers recovered three locally fabricated pistols, six live cartridges, eight rounds of assorted ammunition, two axes, a bottle containing a suspected illicit substance and two cannabis grinders.

The command also arrested a 36-year-old suspect, Peter Jacob, for allegedly repeatedly defiling an 11-year-old Primary One pupil. The victim was taken for medical examination while investigations continue.

In Akwa Ibom State, detectives arrested four suspects following a viral video linked to the killing of 21-year-old Emmanuel Iboro Effiong, who was allegedly beaten to death over accusations of poultry theft.

Police said the victim’s body was exhumed from a shallow grave in a forest and deposited at a mortuary for autopsy.

The command also arrested four other suspects during separate anti-drug operations in Oruk Anam and Nkana villages, bringing the total number of arrests in the state to eight.

In Oyo State, police launched investigations into the killing of a man identified as Bami Yahaya, who was found with multiple machete injuries at Agbede Village in the Ikere axis.

The report added that three suspected armed robbers were arrested over a home invasion in Ibadan during which residents were dispossessed of mobile phones valued at about N650,000.

Two cutlasses and two saws were recovered from the suspects.

In Kebbi State, the Director of Personnel Management in Yauri Local Government Area, Alhaji Nasiru Mohammed, was killed when armed men attacked his residence, while his wife was abducted.

Police said one suspected kidnapper was fatally injured after attempting to evade a security checkpoint. Officers recovered three GSM handsets, an axe and other documents from the suspects’ vehicle.

Ogun State police arrested two suspects in separate alleged defilement cases involving two 13-year-old girls, including one case involving a Chinese national. Both victims were taken to hospital for medical examination.

The command also recovered a Toyota Sienna vehicle that had been abandoned since May.

In Benue State, security operatives and local youths repelled an attack by suspected armed bandits on Anyiase Community in Kwande Local Government Area, although one resident sustained injuries from a stray bullet.

Police also arrested a 20-year-old suspect in connection with an earlier bandit attack in Otukpo.

In Sokoto State, police operatives engaged suspected bandits in a gun battle after an attack on Rugar Yamma Village in Wamako Local Government Area.

The report stated that the officers overpowered the attackers and rescued two kidnapped victims without injuries.

In Anambra State, police commenced investigations into the death of a 12-year-old Junior Secondary School student, Chidera Nnaji, who allegedly died after being assaulted by a teacher.

The command also arrested three suspects accused of abducting female Point-of-Sale operators and allegedly defrauding one victim of ₦3.9 million.

Katsina State police arrested three members of a local vigilante group over the alleged shooting of a 42-year-old man during an attempted arrest over a debt dispute.

The incident triggered protests by youths, who set two vigilante motorcycles ablaze before police restored order.

In Kwara State, a head-on collision involving a container truck and an 18-seater commercial bus on the Niger-Kwara border claimed the lives of 11 people, while nine others sustained injuries and were taken to hospital.

The Jigawa State Command also reported that two police officers sustained serious injuries after they were attacked with cutlasses by two motorcycle-riding suspects during a patrol. The attackers escaped, abandoning a cow suspected to have been stolen.

Meanwhile, police in Edo State successfully responded to an explosion at the Federal Government Gas Plant Project in Ogan Community, Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

The report said emergency responders shut the gas valves in time, preventing a fire outbreak. No casualties or property damage were recorded, while additional security personnel were deployed to secure the facility.

Nationally, the police recorded the arrest of 112 suspects, recovered three firearms, 14 rounds of ammunition and one stolen vehicle, rescued two kidnapped victims and neutralised one suspected kidnapper during the operations.