The Nigeria Police Force says it recovered 52 stolen vehicles and arrested 177 high-profile criminal suspects during operations conducted across the country between September 12 and 18, 2026.
The Force also said 25 kidnapped victims were rescued, while 38 assorted firearms and 2,578 rounds of live ammunition were recovered during the period.
Eleven high-profile armed suspects were also reportedly neutralised.
The figures were disclosed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police Ani Iniedu, during the Force’s weekly operational briefing and shared on its X account on Wednesday.
Iniedu said the operations were part of the police’s intelligence-led and collaborative approach to tackling criminal activities nationwide.
“Through intelligence-led tactical operations, the force has made a total of 177 arrests of high-profile criminal suspects involved in armed robbery, kidnappings, banditry, terrorism, gun running, murders and homicides across Nigeria,” she said.
Kaduna, Katsina operations record successes
Among the operations highlighted was one by the Kaduna State Police Command, which the Force said led to the dismantling of kidnapping camps.
According to the police, four suspected kidnappers were neutralised, 12 suspects arrested and two kidnapped victims rescued.
In Katsina State, police said three kidnapped women were rescued after officers engaged suspected bandits in a gun battle.
An AK-47 rifle was also reportedly recovered during the operation.
Police raid suspected armed camp in Imo
In Imo State, police said they dismantled a camp allegedly linked to the armed wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra, known as the Eastern Security Network.
The operation was conducted in Oguta Local Government Area, where officers reportedly recovered an AK-47 rifle, two magazines containing 52 rounds of ammunition and a hand grenade.
TikTok abduction operation uncovered
In Delta State, the police said four suspects were arrested over an alleged online abduction operation in Asaba.
According to the Force, the suspects allegedly used TikTok to lure victims before holding them captive and unlawfully accessing one victim’s bank account.
In Zamfara State, police reported the interception of three suspects allegedly found with 1,123 rounds of assorted live ammunition concealed inside a Toyota Corolla.
In Anambra State, two kidnapped victims were rescued after police officers and local vigilantes pursued five armed suspects who had allegedly abducted a woman.
Police recover stolen vehicles, weapons
The Force said the week’s operations also resulted in the recovery of 52 stolen vehicles and significant quantities of firearms and ammunition.
Iniedu said the results demonstrated the police’s continued efforts to disrupt criminal networks and respond to threats to public safety.
“During the week under review, Nigerian Police Force has demonstrated sustained operational effectiveness across the country,” she said.
She added that operations would continue nationwide to tackle threats to national security.
“Operations will still continue relentlessly until all threats to national security are neutralized.”