Jane Salihu
Police operatives have arrested at least 40 suspects and recovered firearms, ammunition, stolen property, illicit drugs and vandalised infrastructure in a series of operations carried out across 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in the State-by-State Executive Summary of police operational successes for September 6, 2026, detailing operations conducted between September 2 and 5 in Nasarawa, Delta, Zamfara, Kwara, Abia, Oyo, Taraba, Enugu and the FCT, among others.
The operations also resulted in the rescue of a 60-year-old kidnapping victim in Delta State, the recovery of an AK-47 magazine and pump-action firearms, and the arrest of suspects linked to alleged armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry, vandalism, assault and drug-related offences.
In Nasarawa State, police responding to an armed robbery at Uluji Village, Keana Local Government Area, intercepted fleeing suspects after mounting checkpoints and engaging them in a gun battle. Two suspects were neutralised, while another escaped. A pump-action rifle and the stolen motorcycle were recovered, while another suspect, identified as Isaac Michael, was arrested in connection with the incident.
A joint operation in Delta State led to the rescue of Nduka Omoyi, 60, who was kidnapped. Police, forest guards and local personnel acting on geo-spatial intelligence confronted the abductors at Alisime Village, forcing them to flee into the bush with gunshot wounds. A mobile phone and ATM card were recovered.
In Zamfara, tactical police teams and local vigilantes confronted bandits who had blocked the Kwanar Shado–Malele Road. The bandits were forced to retreat into the forest after the exchange of gunfire, with police sustaining bush-combing and manhunt operations in the area.
Kwara State recorded two separate operations. In one, police and local vigilantes arrested Abubakar Umar and Umar Ayuba, both 25, over suspected kidnapping and banditry. They recovered N770,000, two Infinix phones, a locally made bulletproof vest and a power bank. The suspects were later handed over to military authorities for further questioning over an alleged attack in Niger State.
In another operation in Offa, police arrested 25-year-old Afolabi Ayomide after he was allegedly reported to have threatened people with a firearm at Avalon Hotel. A locally made Beretta pistol loaded with six rounds of ammunition was recovered from him.
Abia police also arrested Ogbonnaya Mba over an alleged threat to life involving a firearm. A search of his residence produced a pump-action gun and an AK-47 rifle magazine, while efforts continued to locate an alleged accomplice.
In Taraba, police disrupted an attempt to process and transport vandalised NNPCL pipes. Two suspects, including an alleged receiver and vandal, were arrested. Eight long pipes, two gas cylinders and 55 bags of cassava allegedly used to conceal the pipes during transportation were recovered.
The FCT Command reported the arrest of Jude Tar, 27, over an alleged armed robbery and rape incident at Pegi. In a separate operation around the National Mosque, four suspected vandals were arrested while allegedly dismantling street solar lights, with a vandalised light and pole recovered.
Delta State accounted for several other operations. Police arrested 10 suspects during a raid on a suspected criminal hideout at Kes Valley Brothel, Abbi, where substances identified as Tramadol, Swinnol, Canadian Loud and Indian Hemp were recovered.
Anti-cult operatives also recovered a locally made cut-to-size firearm abandoned by suspected hoodlums along Ibori Road, Oghara, while a locally made shotgun allegedly used by fleeing armed robbers was recovered at Effurun.
At Ekiugbo Scrap Market, three suspects were arrested following an attack on police officers conducting an investigation, with two motorcycles recovered.
In Oyo State, seven suspects were arrested following an assault on two members of a local vigilante group at Agate Mining Camp, Komu. The injured victims were rescued and taken to General Hospital, Komu, while police continued efforts to arrest other fleeing suspects.
Enugu police, acting on intelligence, intercepted three suspects allegedly involved in the vandalisation and theft of government infrastructure at Umueze, Nkanu West Local Government Area. Stolen iron pans and street lights were recovered.
The Force said the various cases remained under investigation by the respective State Criminal Investigation Departments, with further arrests expected in cases involving fleeing suspects and accomplices.
