The Nigeria Police Force has recorded significant operational successes across 12 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), rescuing five kidnapped victims, arresting 14 suspects, recovering firearms and ammunition, and neutralising three armed criminals in coordinated operations conducted on July 8, 2026.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Inedu, the achievements were contained in the Force’s Daily Situation Report (SITREP) presented to the Inspector-General of Police, highlighting the Force’s sustained offensive against violent crimes across the country.
The report revealed that police operatives recovered four firearms, 350 rounds of ammunition, three stolen vehicles, while successfully rescuing five kidnapped victims during various intelligence-led operations.
In Bauchi State, a joint security operation around the Yankari Game Reserve rescued three kidnapped victims, while tactical teams continued the pursuit of fleeing abductors.
In Benue State, operatives arrested the principal suspect in the murder of Professor Gabriel Saawua Nyityo and his son at an NDLEA checkpoint. Police also neutralised a suspected bandit during an operation in Logo Local Government Area, recovering ammunition, a motorcycle and charms. Efforts are ongoing to rescue a female victim abducted in Katsina-Ala.
In Delta State, police rescued a female kidnap victim who was found unconscious and immediately rushed her to hospital for medical treatment.
In Edo State, security operatives intensified efforts to rescue a kidnapped cattle dealer while bush-combing operations continue. Police also arrested an official of the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) over alleged cultism and recovered a pump-action gun.
The report further disclosed that in the Federal Capital Territory, police recovered two stolen vehicles and arrested two suspects linked to vehicle theft, including the swift recovery of a stolen Toyota RAV4.
In Gombe State, four suspects were arrested in connection with a fatal land dispute that resulted in the death of a victim.
In Imo State, operatives recovered 346 rounds of assorted ammunition and seven magazines during a raid on a criminal hideout concealed in a swamp. Police also foiled an assassination attempt, arresting four suspects and recovering two locally fabricated pistols alongside additional ammunition.
In Jigawa State, police launched forest search operations following the killing of a man and the abduction of his wife from a Fulani settlement.
In Nasarawa State, investigators recovered a pistol linked to a homicide case and successfully rescued one of three abducted university students, while efforts continue to secure the release of the remaining two victims.
In Niger State, police arrested a mentally unstable suspect for allegedly killing one person and injuring two others.
Meanwhile, in Ogun State, a 60-year-old Imam was arrested over the alleged defilement of a 15-year-old girl and an attempted unlawful termination of pregnancy.
In Ondo State, police operatives neutralised two suspected kidnappers during a foiled attack, recovering a pistol, a live cartridge and other exhibits.
In Sokoto State, four suspected cattle rustlers were arrested and two stolen sheep recovered, leading investigators to wider recovery efforts. The report also noted that one person was killed and another injured during a bandit attack, while security operatives intensified forest operations to track the attackers.
Similarly, in Plateau State, police arrested a suspect found in possession of a locally fabricated pistol and a knife at a healthcare facility after causing public panic.
The national crime statistics for the reporting period recorded six homicide cases, eight kidnapping incidents, one banditry case, one cultism case and one gender-based violence case, with no incidents of armed robbery or terrorism reported.
The Force Headquarters observed that kidnapping remains the country’s most prevalent violent crime but noted that coordinated rescue operations and intelligence-driven policing continue to produce positive results.
The Police also identified the proliferation of illegal firearms and ammunition as a major security concern despite recent operational gains, particularly following the recovery of a large cache of ammunition in Imo State and the neutralisation of armed suspects in Benue and Ondo States.
The Force Public Relations Officer recommended intensified intelligence sharing among security agencies, strengthened rapid response capabilities, expanded collaboration with local hunters and vigilante groups where appropriate, and increased community engagement to consolidate the gains recorded in the fight against crime nationwide.
