The Nigeria Police Force has announced a major crackdown on crime, resulting in the arrest of 262 suspects and the rescue of 27 kidnapped victims in operations conducted between September 5 and 11, 2026. This initiative, spearheaded by Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reflects the ongoing efforts to combat insecurity and violent crime across the nation.

According to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Aniete Iniedu, the operations also led to the recovery of 34 firearms and 375 rounds of live ammunition. The police reported that the suspects were involved in a range of serious offences, including kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, banditry, cultism, human trafficking, drug peddling, and vandalism.

The operational achievements included the rescue of a 60-year-old victim, Nduka Omoyi, in Delta State, following a confrontation with his abductors. Additionally, police in the Federal Capital Territory apprehended a suspect linked to a home invasion where a victim's wife was reportedly raped and valuables stolen.

In Kwara State, two men wanted for kidnapping and banditry were captured in Baruten Local Government Area. The police seized N770,000 in cash, two smartphones, a locally made bulletproof vest, and a power bank from the suspects, who were subsequently handed over to military authorities for their alleged involvement in a recent attack in Niger State.

The police also reported several incidents across various states. In Nasarawa State, operatives engaged armed robbers who attacked a motorcyclist, resulting in injuries to two suspects and the recovery of a pump-action rifle. In Sokoto State, tactical teams thwarted a planned bandit attack, neutralizing four suspects and recovering an AK-47 rifle along with 28 rounds of ammunition.

A foiled kidnapping operation in Akwa Ibom State saw police raiding a suspected kidnappers' camp, recovering a pump-action gun, two speedboats, and four outboard engines, although the suspects managed to escape. In Kaduna State, a joint operation led to the neutralization of two suspects and the rescue of two victims, despite the tragic loss of three local hunters who supported the operation.

In Gombe State, a clearance operation resulted in the arrest of a suspected kidnap operative and the rescue of three victims, including a two-year-old child. Meanwhile, in Ebonyi State, police successfully rescued a Methodist clergyman, Ndulo Amofia, after he was abducted by armed men.

The Nigeria Police Force emphasized that these operational results showcase the effectiveness of its intelligence-led and community-collaborative policing strategies. The Force has pledged to continue its operations nationwide while enhancing collaboration with local communities and other security agencies to address the pressing issues of kidnapping, banditry, and violent crime, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining public safety and order under the leadership of IGP Disu.