Police arrest 1,198 suspects, rescue 166 kidnap victims — IG

Nigeria's Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, announced significant successes in the force's nationwide anti-crime operations conducted between June 9 and June 21, 2026. The operations resulted in the apprehension of 1,198 suspects involved in various criminal activities across the federation.

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Since 9th June 2026, anti-crime operations across the Federation have led to the arrest of 1,198 suspects for various offences.

During a monthly conference with senior police officers in Abuja, Disu detailed the breakdown of arrests, which included 151 suspects for murder and culpable homicide, 117 for armed robbery, 151 for kidnapping, and 104 for cult-related offenses. Additionally, 169 individuals were arrested for unlawful possession of firearms. These arrests underscore the broad spectrum of criminal activities targeted by the police.

A major achievement highlighted by the IG was the rescue of 166 kidnap victims. Alongside the human rescues, the operations yielded substantial recoveries of illegal arms and stolen assets. The police recovered 166 assorted firearms, 1,475 rounds of ammunition of various calibers, and 47 stolen vehicles, demonstrating a significant impact on criminal capacity.

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Our operations also led to the rescue of 166 kidnap victims.

Disu specifically commended the successful joint operation that led to the rescue of abducted students and teachers in Oyo State. He emphasized that this success was a testament to effective collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, other security agencies, and the public, who provided crucial intelligence. He stressed that "careful planning, honest inter-agency cooperation and good intelligence work" were key to the victims' safe return.

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The successful rescue of the abducted students and teachers in Oyo State deserves particular mention. It is a clear example of what we can achieve when Nigeria’s security agencies work together with a genuine sense of common purpose.

Despite these successes, the Inspector General cautioned senior officers against complacency. He urged them to maintain and even sharpen their operational resolve, stating that achievements should spur further improvements rather than lead to relaxation. Disu also called for a shift from routine deployments to dynamic, threat-informed strategies tailored to specific jurisdictions, acknowledging the demanding security environment in Nigeria and the need for continuous adaptation.

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A win like this should sharpen our resolve, not soften it. We cannot let a success like Oyo breed complacency.