The Nigeria Police Force has announced the arrest of 138 suspects, the rescue of 23 kidnapped victims, the neutralisation of six suspected notorious criminals and the recovery of 31 firearms during nationwide operations conducted between July 20 and July 26, 2026.
The Force said intelligence-led operations also led to the recovery of 99 rounds of assorted ammunition and 20 vehicles connected to criminal activities.
Force Public Relations Officer CSP Ani Iniedu said the operations were carried out under the leadership of Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu through coordinated intelligence gathering, tactical deployments and inter-agency collaboration.
According to the police, those arrested are linked to offences including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and murder.
One of the most significant operations took place in Imo and Lagos states, where operatives dismantled an interstate kidnapping syndicate.
Police rescued a kidnapped victim during a raid in Imo, while follow-up operations in Lagos led to the arrest of the alleged kingpin and the neutralisation of several suspected gang members.
In Ondo State, officers arrested three suspected armed robbers and recovered an AK-47 rifle, a Beretta pistol and ammunition allegedly used in criminal operations across multiple states.
The Force also rescued the wife and four children of the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State after a bandit attack on his residence, while efforts continue to secure the release of the chairman and other abducted victims.
Other successful operations included the rescue of kidnapped travellers in Kogi, the disruption of a suspected cult initiation in Delta, the rescue of kidnap victims in Nasarawa, the recovery of stolen cattle in Sokoto, the foiling of a kidnap attempt in the Federal Capital Territory, and the rescue of an abducted resident in Ogun State.
The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to combating violent crime and urged members of the public to continue providing useful information that could assist security agencies in protecting lives and property across the country.
