The Nigeria Police Force has reported a series of operational successes across several states, including the rescue of kidnapped victims, neutralisation of five suspected bandits, recovery of firearms and ammunition, and arrests linked to kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes.
According to the State-by-State Executive Summary of police operational successes released on Monday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the operations were carried out between August 27 and 31, 2026.
In Ogun State, police operatives rescued a kidnapped victim, Usman Umar, unhurt after combing a surrounding forest. The operatives subsequently raided the kidnappers’ hideout, engaging the suspects in a gun duel during which two kidnappers were neutralised, while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
Two AK-47 rifles, 25 rounds of 5.6mm ammunition and two mobile phones were recovered.
In Sokoto State, police tactical teams, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, VCRU and military personnel foiled an attempted bandit attack on Maikujera Village.
The security teams engaged the bandits in a prolonged gun battle, during which three suspects were neutralised. One AK-47 rifle and 22 rounds of ammunition were recovered, while no security personnel or villagers were reported killed.
In Kano State, police tactical teams rescued Alhaji Yusif Nadabo after suspected bandits abandoned him during a hot chase following an attack in Garun Mallam Town.
However, three other victims who sustained gunshot injuries were evacuated to hospital but were later confirmed dead.
In Taraba State, police personnel from 67 PMF Takum, Highway Patrol and the Divisional Police Officer-led team rescued 55-year-old Alidoo Cecilia Ityo and her granddaughter after they were kidnapped and subsequently abandoned by their abductors.
A red Toyota Corolla, with registration number JMT-680-XA, allegedly abandoned by the kidnappers, was also recovered.
Similarly, in Plateau State, a combined team of PMF personnel, VCRU operatives and local hunters rescued Pastor Dipat Gabriel Joseph, who had been kidnapped in Bokkos. He was rescued unhurt, while efforts to arrest the perpetrators continue.
In Oyo State, police arrested four suspected kidnappers following the abduction of nine-year-old Shittu Ridwan. The suspects were arrested after combined security teams combed surrounding bushes, with four expended cartridges recovered. Search operations are continuing to rescue the boy and apprehend other members of the gang.
In another operation in the state, police arrested 27-year-old Ali Betau along the Igbope/Igbeti Road. Four ATM cards were recovered from him, while phone records allegedly linked him to a wanted kidnapper. A kidnapping victim also positively identified him as one of the participants in her abduction.
In Lagos, three suspected members of an armed robbery and carjacking syndicate were arrested following intelligence-led operations. Police recovered two locally made pistols loaded with five cartridges and a locally made revolver pistol loaded with three rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Meanwhile, in Abia State, police operatives recovered a locally made pistol, 40 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and two rounds of 7.62mm ammunition from Okohia Forest in Ukwa West Local Government Area.
The recovery followed intelligence that suspected armed hoodlums were attempting to establish a camp in the forest. The suspects fled upon sighting the police team. Four empty magazines, military camouflage and substances suspected to be Indian hemp were also recovered.
In Katsina State, police tactical personnel engaged suspected cattle rustlers in a gun battle following an attack on cattle rearers at Tafoki Village. The suspects were overpowered and five rustled cows were recovered, while injured victims were rescued and taken to Funtua General Hospital for treatment.
In Delta State, police arrested 33-year-old Ossai Price during a patrol along Mariam Babagida Road, Asaba. He was allegedly dressed in a Special Forces uniform and found in possession of a locally fabricated pump-action gun resembling an AK-47 rifle. The weapon was loaded with four live cartridges.
In Kaduna State, police operatives, PMF personnel and members of KADVIS responded to reports of armed bandits disturbing farmers. The suspects fled into the bush after sighting the security team, abandoning a pump-action rifle, two cartridges and a motorcycle.
Also, in Akwa Ibom State, police raided a suspected criminal hideout at Ikot Edong Village, Uyo Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of two suspected drug dealers, Moses Dominic Okon and Kufre Essien Okon. A large quantity of substances suspected to be Indian hemp was recovered.
In Ogun State, detectives also arrested Biola Adeokola in connection with the fatal attack on Adeyemi Adegoke at Arigbajo. Police said search operations were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing accomplices.
In Enugu State, a joint police, Army, neighbourhood watch and forest guard operation was launched following the abduction of three persons at Amaja Community. Three expended shells of 7.62x39mm ammunition were recovered, while search operations continue for the victims and their abductors.
The police said all the cases were under investigation by the respective State Criminal Investigation Departments (SCIDs), while efforts were ongoing to arrest fleeing suspects and rescue outstanding kidnap victims.