Police Arrest 1,774 Criminal Suspects In 2 Months

A total of 1,774 criminal suspects were apprehended, while 476 kidnapped victims were rescued by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force between April and May, 2025.

Police said some of the rescued victims were freed from extremely difficult terrains within the period under review.

Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun disclosed this at the strategic meeting with commissioners of police and senior police officer in Abuja on Wednesday.

Speaking at the event, the IGP the 1,774 criminal suspects were apprehended for various offences including
kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, and murder.

IGP Egbetokun revealed further the 274 assorted firearms and 2,583 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the suspects during the period.

“We have also recovered 187 stolen or unregistered vehicles and rescued 476 kidnapped victims, some from extremely difficult terrains,” he said.

While giving details of the arrests, the IGP said a coordinated special operation in Kaduna State led to dismantling of a major kidnapping syndicate operating in remote communities in the state. “Over 30 suspects were apprehended, and several abducted victims rescued unharmed.

“In Anambra and Imo States, targeted intelligence-led raids on insurgent cells resulted in the arrest of high-value suspects linked to recent attacks on police formations and other security posts,” he said.

The IGP listed items recovered to include arms, Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs)-making materials, and stolen security assets.

In Lagos and Ogun States, the Nigeria police boss said the Anti-Cultism Units, working in synergy with local tactical teams, disrupted several cult initiation ceremonies, arrested over 100 cultists, and recovered dangerous weapons.

Egbetokun maintained that this has significantly reduced inter-gang clashes in key urban hotspots.

He also disclosed a successful extradition by the INTERPOL NCB of a Nigerian fugitive, Abubakar Aboki Muhammed, who was involved in a $307,500.00 fraud from the United Arab Emirates on Friday, 23rd May 2025.

He also stated that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, on May 5, 2025, successfully rescued 25 kidnapped Ivorian nationals and arrested eight (8) members of a transnational kidnapping syndicate.