The Nigeria Police Force says it has arrested 1,334 suspects and rescued 383 kidnapped victims across the country during intelligence-led operations carried out in July and August 2026.
Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Inedu, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a joint security briefing involving security and law enforcement agencies.
According to Inedu, the operations also resulted in the recovery of 175 firearms, more than 3,790 rounds of live ammunition, 93 vehicles and several rustled cattle.
He added that 127 suspected criminals were neutralised during encounters with police operatives and other security forces.
The police spokesman said tactical teams also prevented a large-scale attack after engaging about 240 armed bandits, killing 17 of the assailants.
Inedu said joint operations in Sokoto State rescued 32 kidnapped victims at Maikujera in Rabah Local Government Area, while another operation at Amla-Cho Forest led to the rescue of 13 victims abandoned by fleeing bandits.
He said collaborative operations involving the police, vigilantes and other security actors also rescued 76 victims in separate incidents.
The police recorded further successes against kidnapping networks in Kogi, Kaduna, Imo, Nasarawa and other states.
In one operation, six victims were rescued after gunmen attacked two vehicles along the Kabba-Ayere Road, while nine others were rescued along the Mameramo-Adomu Road.
Inedu also disclosed that police operatives disrupted the activities of an IPOB/ESN network in Imo, neutralising a suspected kingpin and recovering two AK-47 rifles, four empty magazines and a vehicle.
He said 551 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and 10 loaded magazines were recovered from a female suspect intercepted along the Doma-Yelwa Road, while another 870 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered from suspected gun-runners in a separate operation.
Three suspects linked to the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division were also arrested, with two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack recovered.
Another operation led to the arrest of 18 suspects and the recovery of 47 firearms, 12 stolen vehicles and 420 rounds of ammunition.
The police also arrested 37 suspected cult members during a disrupted initiation ceremony and apprehended a native doctor linked to an earlier abduction and murder case.
Inedu pledged that the force would sustain intelligence-led operations, inter-agency collaboration and community engagement to disrupt criminal networks and improve security across the country.
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