Police Arrest 50 Suspects, Recover Weapons in Nationwide Crackdown

The Nigeria Police Force has announced the arrest of 50 suspects and the recovery of a cache of weapons and other exhibits in a series of coordinated operations targeting criminal networks across the country.

Briefing journalists at the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) headquarters in Guzape, Abuja, the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Okon Placide, said the operations, conducted between January and April 2026, underscore the Force’s intensified efforts to combat crime and ensure public safety.
He disclosed that the operations led to the recovery of 17 rifles, 111 rounds of live ammunition, magazines, communication devices, vehicles, and other items linked to criminal activities.
According to him, seven major cases were highlighted during the period under review, including incidents of kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry, and illegal arms possession.
In one case, operatives arrested a suspect, Musa Jibrin, for criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of firearms, recovering an FNC rifle and an empty magazine. Police say efforts are ongoing to apprehend his accomplice still at large.
In Benue State, four suspected members of an armed robbery syndicate were arrested for mounting fake police checkpoints to rob unsuspecting members of the public. Recovered items included locally fabricated firearms and a police uniform used as a disguise.
Similarly, four suspects were apprehended in Abuja for alleged involvement in abduction, “one chance” extortion, and robbery along the Dei-Dei/Kubwa expressway. Police linked the suspects to multiple criminal incidents within the Federal Capital Territory.
The police also confirmed the arrest of three suspects in Taraba State in connection with the killing of three officers in Donga Local Government Area. Investigations revealed the suspects’ involvement in broader violent attacks in the region.
In a major breakthrough, 33 suspects linked to terrorism, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and armed robbery were arrested across Kwara and Kogi states following the 2025 attack on a church in Eruku community. Recovered from the group were several AK-47 rifles, magazines, ammunition, communication devices, and an anti-aircraft launcher.
In separate operations, police arrested a suspect in Benue State for illegal possession of an AK-47 rifle allegedly purchased from a bandit, while another suspect was apprehended in Abuja for car burglary, with a fabricated master key recovered.
The Force spokesman assured that investigations are ongoing to apprehend fleeing suspects and recover additional weapons, adding that all arrested individuals will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
He reiterated the Police’s commitment to strengthening intelligence-driven operations and collaboration with other security agencies to curb criminal activities and ensure a safer Nigeria.