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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Inspector General of Police(IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, yesterday, said police operations conducted across the country between July 31 to date led to the arrest of 4,383 suspected criminals for various offences.
The IGP, at a meeting with strategic senior officers from the ranks of Commissioners and above, also said the police rescued 1,138 kidnapped victims during the period under review.
He listed the arrested suspects to include : 481 armed robbery suspects; 260 kidnappers, 371 for murder or culpable homicide, and 161 for unlawful possession of firearms.
He also said: “We also arrested 322 suspected rapists, 375 cultists, and 2,413 others for various serious crimes. In the same period, we recovered 716 assorted firearms, 21,238 rounds of ammunition, and 212 vehicles. The IGP, said,“each of these figures represents more than enforcement metrics; they reflect lives saved, families reunited, and communities restored to peace. Behind every number is an officer, who faced danger, took a calculated risk, and displayed courage beyond measure.
Giving the breakdown of the operations, the IGP said, “ on August 4, operatives in Delta State, in synergy with local security groups, responded swiftly to an armed robbery along Chelsea Street in Ogwashi-Ukwu. Two suspects were apprehended and a cache of weapons and stolen electronics recovered.
“ Again, on September 16, the Safer Highway Patrol Team in Edo State, intercepted a suspect en route Benin ,with fabricated pistols, ammunition, and a stolen Lexus RX 330. That same month, 16 kidnapped victims were rescued in Odemigwe and Obanrenren after a rapid response to a highway ambush. In each of these cases, success was not accidental; it was the result of initiative, preparation, and tactical confidence.
“ Across Imo and Anambra states, IPOB/ESN strongholds were dismantled, leading to the recovery of assault weapons, explosives, and operational vehicles.
“In the South-West, multiple kidnap syndicates were neutralised, particularly in Oyo, Ogun, and Itesiwaju, with suspects arrested, ransom money recovered, and victims rescued. In Abeokuta, operatives successfully foiled a kidnapping attempt and rescued five hostages without loss of life. These are not isolated wins – they are part of a growing pattern of coordinated response, inter-agency synergy, and real-time community intelligence.
“ During the August by-elections in Kano, 333 suspects were apprehended for offences including conspiracy, intimidation, and snatching of electoral materials. Exhibits recovered included firearms, machetes, and over four million naira in cash.
“ In Zamfara, the arrest of 13 bandit collaborators and rescue of 19 kidnapped victims on September 12,further reinforced our expanding operational footprint in high-risk corridors.
“What these operations revealed is that when Commands are aligned, supported, and purpose-driven, the results are swift and
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decisive”.
The IGP, while commending police officers was for their bravery in carrying out their duties, however called for an improvement to meet the security challenges across the country.
He said,“since our last Conference, we have witnessed encouraging signs of progress. The operational and behavioural charges I issued during our July engagement were not ignored – I have seen them echoed in the field, reflected in improved Command posture, more coherent tactical responses, and a clearer demonstration of supervisory presence at critical flashpoints.
“” These gains are commendable, but excellence cannot thrive where compliance is selective. Some Commands are still short of full adherence, and that must change if we are to move as one Force.
“ However, no one rises by merely doing what is expected. The pursuit of excellence is not a one-off achievement; it is a continuous discipline. So, while we acknowledge the steps taken, we must also admit that we are still some distance from the ideal. There is work to be done, and there is no better forum than this one to determine how.
“ Let us ground ourselves in the reality we face: policing in Nigeria is undergoing a period of intense complexity. Threats are no longer localised or predictable. We are confronting hybrid criminal actors who blend physical violence with cyber tactics, local knowledge with transnational reach, and petty motives with ideological ones.
“Armed banditry, secessionist violence, ritual killings, financial fraud, gender-based crimes, and electoral violence – all these compete for our attention, sometimes simultaneously and in overlapping theatres. We cannot respond with outdated strategies or intedreactive postures.
“ Our mindset must evolve. Our coordination must be seamless. Our leadership must be visible and deliberate – not just within our Commands, but across the national architecture of law enforcement.
“In the face of these complexities, the Force has continued to rise with determination and agility. Across various Commands, we have recorded results that reflect not just tactical competence, but the early fruits of recalibrated leadership.
“The past two months have yielded high-impact interventions, coordinated rescues, weapons recoveries, and targeted arrests – outcomes that show our resolve to dominate criminal spaces and reclaim public confidence. But beyond the numbers lies a more important truth: where leadershllip is intentional, results follow.
He further charged the Senior Officers to take full charge in their respective areas of jurisdiction as they would be held accountable for any lapses henceforth.
