Police Crackdown: 5,936 Suspects Held, Hundreds of Guns Recovered

The Nigeria Police Force has intensified its war against violent crime, arresting nearly 6,000 suspects and seizing a large cache of arms and ammunition in nationwide operations.

According to the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the raids led to the arrest of 5,936 individuals for offences ranging from armed robbery and kidnapping to murder, sexual violence, cultism, and unlawful possession of firearms. In the process, operatives recovered 360 firearms and 5,952 rounds of live ammunition.

Among those arrested were 715 suspected armed robbers, 306 kidnappers, 533 homicide suspects, 149 for unlawful possession of arms, 371 for sexually related crimes, 590 alleged cultists, and over 3,000 others linked to various offences.

The clampdown also exposed several high-profile cases. In Plateau State, police arrested Jane Anodua following reports of child trafficking. Two girls, both 10 years old, were rescued in Rivers State, while two more trafficked children were later found in Imo and reunited with their families.

In Taraba, suspected gunrunner Tanfa Binbol was intercepted on July 13. He reportedly confessed to moving weapons between Taraba and Plateau. A raid on his home turned up three AK-47 rifles, five pistols, and a pump-action rifle. Similarly, on July 27, operatives arrested Jerauji Ibrahim in Adamawa State, recovering two AK-47 rifles, magazines, and 19 rounds of ammunition.

Further raids on criminal hideouts across the country produced additional weapons, including AK-47s, a G-3 rifle, a submachine gun, locally fabricated pistols, and revolvers.

DCP Adejobi stressed that the successes reflect the determination of Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to restore public confidence in law enforcement. He said the Force remains committed to ensuring Nigerians live and move about without fear of crime.