The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has unveiled the latest gains recorded by the Nigeria Police Force in its nationwide fight against crime, announcing that 1,198 suspects were arrested and 166 kidnapped victims rescued in coordinated anti-crime operations conducted across the country between June 9 and July 21, 2026.
The IGP disclosed this on Tuesday while addressing strategic senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force during the Force’s monthly conference at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
According to Disu, the arrests comprised 151 suspects for murder and culpable homicide, 117 for armed robbery, 151 for kidnapping, 104 suspected cultists and 169 persons arrested for unlawful possession of firearms.
He added that police operatives also recovered 166 assorted firearms, 1,475 rounds of ammunition of various calibres and 47 stolen vehicles during the period under review.
The Inspector-General commended officers involved in the operations, noting that the achievements reflected their courage, professionalism and unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property despite the country’s challenging security environment.
He, however, stressed that Nigeria’s security threats, including terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, cult-related violence, cybercrime and other organised criminal activities, continue to evolve, requiring the Police Force to remain proactive and intelligence-driven.
Disu directed Commissioners of Police and other strategic commanders to strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance, visibility policing and collaboration with sister security agencies, emphasising that all operational deployments must be guided by credible intelligence and sound threat assessments.
He noted that the true measure of policing success lies not in the number of operations conducted but in the security outcomes achieved, urging state police commands to develop strategies tailored to their peculiar security challenges while aligning with national policing objectives.
The IGP further instructed commanders to institutionalise post-operation reviews to identify lessons learned and improve future operations, describing continuous learning as critical to sustaining operational effectiveness.
Highlighting the successful rescue of abducted students and teachers in Oyo State, Disu described the operation as a shining example of effective inter-agency collaboration.
He said the rescue was made possible through close cooperation between the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, other security and intelligence agencies, as well as members of the public who provided timely and credible information.
The Inspector-General commended all personnel who participated in the operation, stating that their professionalism and courage ensured the safe return of the victims and reinforced the value of intelligence-led policing and coordinated security operations.
While celebrating the success, Disu cautioned against complacency, stressing that every operational achievement should inspire greater commitment rather than relaxation in the fight against crime.
He also expressed appreciation to members of the public whose information contributed to the successful Oyo rescue, urging Nigerians to continue partnering with security agencies by reporting suspicious activities.
According to the IGP, effective policing depends on strong collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve, adding that timely information remains one of the most powerful tools for preventing crime and safeguarding lives and property.
