Police nab 1,198 suspects, rescue 166 kidnap victims, IG

The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has announced that nationwide anti-crime operations took place between June 9 and June 21, 2026. These operations led to the arrest of 1,198 suspects across Nigeria.

Disu shared this information during a monthly meeting with senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja. He explained that the arrests covered various crimes, and there were major recoveries of illegal weapons and stolen vehicles, along with the rescue of kidnap victims.

He said, "Since 9th June 2026, anti-crime operations across the Federation have led to the arrest of 1,198 suspects for various offences. That figure breaks down as follows: 151 suspects for murder and culpable homicide, 117 for armed robbery, 151 for kidnapping, and 104 suspected cultists. A further 169 persons were arrested for unlawful possession of firearms."

The police boss also reported that 166 kidnap victims were rescued during these operations, along with the recovery of significant weaponry and assets.

"Our operations also led to the rescue of 166 kidnap victims. We recovered 166 assorted firearms and 1,475 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, along with 47 stolen vehicles," Disu stated.

He acknowledged that the success came from police personnel who did their jobs well, often risking their lives.

Highlighting specific recent successes, Disu pointed to the rescue of abducted students and teachers in Oyo State. He described this as a shining example of effective teamwork among security agencies.

"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. The operation succeeded because of close collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, other security and intelligence agencies, and members of the public who came forward with timely, credible information," he explained.

Disu praised the officers involved, saying, "Careful planning, honest inter-agency cooperation and good intelligence work" helped bring the victims back safely.

But he also warned senior officers not to lower their standards after recent successes.

"A win like this should sharpen our resolve, not soften it. We cannot let a success like Oyo breed complacency. Every achievement should push us to improve further, not to relax," the IGP cautioned.

As he addressed the ongoing security issues in the country, Disu told Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police to move away from routine methods. He urged them to adopt strategies that respond to the specific threats in their areas.

"Nigeria’s security environment remains demanding. We have recorded real successes in recent months, but terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, cult-related violence, cybercrime and other organised criminal activity continue to evolve, and we have to evolve faster than they do. Every deployment should be guided by credible intelligence and a sound assessment of the threat, not habit or routine," Disu said.

On leadership within the force, the IGP stressed that success would be measured by security outcomes, not just how many operations are carried out.

He directed every command to review their operations to improve future plans.

"I want to be clear about what success looks like. It is not the number of operations we run. It is the security outcomes those operations produce. I expect every Commissioner of Police to build a command-specific strategy that reflects the realities on the ground in your state. An institution that keeps learning stays effective," he emphasized.

Disu urged Nigerians to actively partner with law enforcement by sharing useful information.

"Lasting security depends on genuine partnership between the police and the communities we serve. I encourage every Nigerian to stay alert and to keep reporting suspicious activity. Every piece of information matters. If you see something, say something," he advised.