Jane Salihu
The Nigeria Police Force has intensified coordinated operations across several states, recording arrests, recovery of firearms and stolen property, as well as the activation of rescue operations following a series of robbery and kidnapping incidents.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a state-by-state executive summary of police operational successes released on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, covering incidents recorded between August 22 and 25.
In Oyo State, police operatives arrested two suspected members of a trans-border armed robbery syndicate and recovered a stolen Lexus RX 350 along the Ibadan–Ilorin Expressway. Four HP laptops, an iPhone 15 Pro Max, seven wristwatches and jewellery belonging to the victim were also recovered.
In Akwa Ibom, five suspected armed robbers were arrested at their hideout by detectives of the Eagle Response Squad. Two locally-made pistols and two shirts allegedly worn during the robbery were recovered.
Police in Ekiti State also arrested three suspected cultists following an attack by armed hoodlums in Ijadu Community. A locally-made single-barrel gun, axe, expended cartridge shell, charms and other exhibits were recovered.
In Lagos, an armed robbery suspect was apprehended during a stop-and-search operation at Alakija, with a prototype short gun, two suspected stolen Android phones and cash recovered.
The Force also reported the recovery of two stolen cows in Gombe State following an armed robbery attack in Pata, Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area, while an abandoned Toyota Prado was recovered in Mpape, Abuja.
Beyond arrests and recoveries, the Police activated joint rescue and tracking operations in response to separate kidnapping incidents in Oyo, the FCT, Bauchi and Zamfara states.
In Oyo, police, Amotekun Corps, vigilantes and local hunters joined efforts to locate a resident abducted at Taaju Settlement, Iseyin. In the FCT, police operatives and local vigilantes launched a tracking operation after a 51-year-old man was abducted at Bobota Village, Kwali, with three empty K-2 ammunition shells recovered from the scene.
Similar rescue operations were activated in Bauchi following the abduction of a woman from her residence at Lamba Village, Itas/Gadau, while in Zamfara, tactical teams and other security agencies commenced search and pursuit operations following multiple attacks and abductions along the Fegin Mahe–Mada and Shemori–Mada roads.
The Police said investigations and rescue efforts remain ongoing across the affected commands, with efforts focused on apprehending fleeing suspects, rescuing victims and recovering additional stolen property.
