The Nigeria Police Force has announced a series of successful operations across several states, leading to the rescue of kidnapped victims, the arrest of eight suspects, and the recovery of a significant cache of arms and ammunition.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the operations were intelligence-led and conducted across Delta, Katsina, Adamawa, and Edo states.
The efforts are part of ongoing nationwide strategies to combat kidnapping, cultism, and illegal arms dealing.
In Edo State, police operatives in collaboration with local vigilantes rescued two kidnapped individuals—Godday Irieude and Wisdom Emeka—who were abducted from their farm in the Ewatto area at about 1:00 a.m. on June 26.
The operatives engaged the kidnappers in a gun battle, prompting the assailants to flee with gunshot wounds, leaving the victims unharmed.
In Delta State, officers attached to the state command, acting on intelligence and a search warrant, raided a residence in Mosogar occupied by suspected cultists Koko Josh (29) and Asomugha Clinton (27).
The search yielded a fabricated Baretta pistol with two rounds of live ammunition, two locally made guns, eight live cartridges, several mobile phones, a laptop, and fetish items.
Follow-up investigations led to the arrest of two more suspects—Anthony Kelvin (26) and Gift Amotsuka (25)—identified as members of the Aiye Confraternity.
In a separate operation in Okpanam, Delta State, police arrested Ekene Chroma (36) and Okafor Jonathan (18) for illegal arms dealing. They were found with two English-made single-barrel guns and 110 live cartridges. Preliminary findings indicate they supplied weapons to criminal elements across the state.
In Katsina State, operatives from the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) arrested Yunusa Ishaku (40) in Funtua, in possession of two stolen vehicles a Toyota Hiace bus and a Toyota Camry.
During interrogation, Ishaku confessed to being part of a vehicle theft syndicate operating across Abuja, Jos, and other parts of Nigeria, with stolen vehicles reportedly transported to Niger Republic for resale.
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He also disclosed the locations of three additional stolen vehicles in Zamfara and Bauchi states, now being traced by authorities.
In a different sting operation in Adamawa State, police operatives arrested Alhaji Iya Bima (52) from Kem Shithem LGA with one AK-47 rifle, two magazines, and 50 rounds of live 7.62x39mm ammunition. Subsequent interrogation led to the recovery of another AK-47, three magazines, and an additional 50 rounds of ammunition.
All suspects are in custody and will be arraigned upon the conclusion of investigations.
Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to intensifying intelligence-led policing and dismantling criminal networks threatening peace and security nationwide.
The police urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through emergency hotlines.
“These operations reflect our renewed focus on intelligence-driven policing and proactive security interventions,” the statement read.
The IGP encouraged continued public cooperation, stressing that effective policing requires active community support to defeat rising security challenges.
