The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced significant breakthroughs in its fight against violent crimes, with the arrest of suspected kidnappers, the rescue of a victim, and the recovery of arms, ammunition, and millions of naira in Akwa Ibom and Nasarawa States.
The development was disclosed on Sunday, August 31, 2025, in an internal security update issued from the Force Headquarters, Abuja, by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
According to the statement, on August 16, police operatives in Eket Division, working in collaboration with officers from Ikot Udota Division and local youths in Afia Nsit, responded to a distress call of a suspected kidnapping attempt along Factory Road, Afia Nsit, Eket. The swift response led to the rescue of a victim, identified as Emerson, and the arrest of two suspects, Okon Edem Okon and Emmanuel Bassey.
A further search in an uncompleted building in a nearby bush uncovered a cache of weapons, including one AK-47 rifle, one assault rifle, 67 rounds of ammunition, a pump-action shotgun with six live cartridges, six magazines, and a mobile phone believed to belong to the kidnappers. Security agencies are currently pursuing other fleeing suspects linked to the gang.
Similarly, in Nasarawa State on August 18, operatives from Garaku Police Division recovered a large cache of arms and cash following a lone motor accident involving an Opel Vectra near the VIO checkpoint at Angwan Mayo community. The two occupants of the vehicle fled the scene, abandoning the car.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a G3 rifle, later followed by the discovery of an AK-47 rifle, a Type 06 rifle, another G3 rifle, three magazines, 57 rounds of live ammunition, and ₦6,908,150 in cash. A coordinated manhunt conducted alongside the military led to the arrest of one suspect, Mohammed Tahir of Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, who confessed to being part of a seven-man kidnap gang responsible for the abduction of a lawyer in Nyanya, Abuja.
The Force assured that investigations are ongoing and all arrested suspects will be charged to court upon completion of the process.
Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commended the swift response of operatives, community collaboration, and the vigilance of citizens whose information proved vital in the operations. He reiterated the NPF’s commitment to ensuring that criminal elements have no safe haven across Nigeria.
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