The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a breakthrough in its fight against violent crime, arresting 50 suspects linked to terrorism, kidnapping, and armed robbery in a series of coordinated operations across the country.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on April 13, the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Okon Placid, said the arrests followed sustained intelligence-led operations by the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT).
According to him, “the Nigeria Police Force has made significant progress in its ongoing campaign against high-profile criminality, leading to the arrest of fifty suspects and the recovery of a substantial cache of weapons.”
Among the weapons recovered were 17 rifles, one anti-aircraft launcher, 111 rounds of live ammunition, 17 cartridges, nine magazines, and five walkie-talkie devices used by suspects to coordinate their operations. Officers also seized three mobile phones and a vehicle believed to have been used in criminal activities.
Placid described the operations as a “strategic offensive” targeting criminal syndicates that have long threatened public safety, noting that several clandestine cells have been dismantled since January 2026.
One of the most notable breakthroughs, he said, was the takedown of a 33-member gang allegedly involved in terrorism, cattle rustling, and a violent attack on a Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara State.
The police also arrested suspects linked to the killing of three officers attached to the Donga Divisional Headquarters in Taraba State, a development the spokesperson described as “securing justice for fallen colleagues.”
In the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states, the Force said it had disrupted criminal networks involved in “one-chance” abductions, car burglaries, and the operation of fake police checkpoints.
“These arrests have not only removed dangerous individuals from the streets but also led to the recovery of stolen property and operational tools used to terrorise innocent citizens,” Placid added.
In a separate operation, operatives acting on intelligence arrested a 25-year-old suspect, Nasiru Ibrahim, in the Igumale area of Benue State. He was found with an AK-47 rifle, a magazine, and eight rounds of live ammunition.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the weapon was allegedly supplied by a suspected bandit identified as Janari, who remains at large. Police say efforts are ongoing to apprehend him and other members of the syndicate.
Reacting to the developments, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to improving security nationwide.
“These achievements are a testament to the relentless efforts of the Nigeria Police in the pursuit of justice,” he said, adding that several suspects will soon be charged in court while investigations continue to track down other accomplices and recover more illegal weapons.
