Police Arrests 920 Suspected Kidnappers, Robbers, Cultists In One Month

IGP Meets Northern Traditional Leaders, Unveils Plan To Implement Community Policing — A file photo of acting IGP, Mr Mohammed Adamu.

The Nigeria Police has revealed that a total of 920 suspects have been arrested for various degree of crimes between May 10 and June 14, 2019.

According to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, during a conference with senior officers at the force headquarters in Abuja, the arrests of the suspects, comprising 424 kidnappers, 276 armed robbers 44 murder suspects and 176 cultists were made by the Operation Puff Adder.

He added that Kaduna State recorded the highest number of arrested kidnappers with 101, followed by Katsina, Nasarawa and Taraba.

“Sequel to the launch of Operation Puff Adder in all the States of the Federation and other security strategies recently emplaced to address internal security threats, a total number of Four Hundred and Twenty Four (424) kidnappers were arrested between 10th May, 2019, and 14th, June, 2019.

“The highest number of One Hundred and one (101) kidnap suspects were arrested in Kaduna State, followed by Katsina State with Seventy Nine (79) arrests. Fifty Four (54) suspects were apprehended in Nasarawa State and Thirty Two (32) in Taraba State.”

Meanwhile, “a total of Forty Four (44) murder suspects were arrested during the period under review, with the highest number of Seven (7) in FCT and Six (6) in Kano State.

“In addition, Two Hundred and Seventy Six (276) armed robbery suspects were arrested within the same period with the highest number of Thirty Eight (38) in Edo State, followed by Twenty Five (25) in Nasarawa State and Twenty Three (23) in FCT.”

The IGP added that 10,860 ammunition were recovered and hundreds of firearms and a rocket launcher.

“Similarly, a total of ten thousand, eight hundred and sixty (10,860) ammunition of various descriptions and calibre were recovered while a total of Three hundred and One (301) firearms including a Rocket Launcher, AK47 assault rifles, pistols and locally made gun, were similarly recovered from criminal elements across the country, with the highest number of eighty (80) in Katsina State, followed by Edo State with Twenty six (26) and Kaduna State with twenty-five (25).

“Furthermore, One Hundred and Seventy Six (176) suspected cultists were arrested across the country while Seventy Seven (77) stolen vehicles were recovered by Operation Puff Adder operatives nationwide between 10th May, 2019 and 14th June, 2019, with the highest number of Twenty nine (29) in FCT.”

The police chief said that despite isolated cases of security breaches, the crime rate in recent times has reduced.

“Within this context, it is noted that while there are still isolated cases of internal security breaches which often attract publicity and national attention, the crime rate in recent times has been on the decline. This is in contrast to the crime records over the preceding months.”

He charged the personnel to implement strategies aimed towards restoring internal security across the country.