Police rescue 12 kidnap victims, recover arms in nationwide operations
The Nigeria Police Force reported the successful rescue of 12 individuals kidnapped in various operations across different states, alongside the recovery of firearms and the arrest of several suspects.
In a statement released by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, police operations conducted between September 29 and October 2, 2026, were detailed.
In Taraba State, three of five individuals who had been kidnapped were rescued following sustained efforts against the abductors. The victims were returned safely to their families.
Nine travelers kidnapped in Ogun State were also freed during a joint security operation. According to police, the individuals were unharmed and subsequently reunited with their families after debriefing.
In Sokoto State, police thwarted an attempted attack on Tsabre Village on October 2. Armed bandits retreated into a forest after encountering police tactical teams, members of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, and VCRU personnel. A search of the area resulted in the recovery of two rocket launchers, two empty AK-47 magazines, a mobile phone, a torchlight, a military-style cap, a sweater cap, five pairs of sandals, and a rain jacket. The police reported no casualties among security personnel or community residents.
In a separate incident on October 1, authorities in Katsina State repelled bandits who attacked motorists along the Funtua-Zaria Road, allowing traffic to resume.
Meanwhile, in Benue State, police responding to an ambush on Amaafu-Abaji Road killed one suspected bandit and recovered a locally manufactured firearm. Other suspects fled the scene.
In Oyo State, three men were arrested on suspicion of armed robbery during a raid in the Sabo area of Ibadan. An iPhone 7 Plus, allegedly belonging to a robbery victim who died, was recovered. The suspects were later identified and reportedly confessed to their involvement in the crime.
Police operations in Akwa Ibom State led to the arrest of three suspects at a criminal hideout in Itiam Etoi Village, Uyo. Authorities seized substances believed to be cannabis and other illegal drugs during the operation. Another suspect was apprehended in a stop-and-search operation, found in possession of a locally made firearm, a machete, and gunpowder.
In Ogun State, three suspected cult members were arrested in Agbado, where police recovered cannabis, an axe, laptops, soap, and drug pipes. Additionally, suspects were apprehended following an alleged assault on police officers during a surveillance operation, with two vehicles connected to the incident also impounded.
In Cross River State, detectives investigating a threat to life arrested a suspect and recovered a locally made single-barrel gun and two live cartridges. The police command intervened in a case of unlawful detention, freeing two victims who received medical attention at a police hospital.
In Ebonyi State, police arrested a suspected criminal in Ezenmahi Village, recovering a short gun. Enugu detectives also apprehended a suspect in connection with the alleged killing of a 16-year-old boy and recovered the victim’s body and related evidence.
In Ekiti State, a suspect was arrested in the death of a microfinance bank employee, with the victim’s body placed in a mortuary for autopsy.
Additionally, police, in collaboration with military personnel, addressed a communal conflict in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, restoring peace.
The police indicated that investigations into these incidents are ongoing at the respective State Criminal Investigation Departments.
