The Inspector–General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, on Thursday, disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force in the last three months got reports of 302 murder cases, 172 abductions, 35 terror attacks, and 111 armed robbery cases.
The cases, he said, were reported between December 2023 and February 2024.
The IG made this known at the Force Headquarters during a meeting with Deputy Inspectors Generals of Police, Assistant Inspectors Generals of Police, Commissioners of Police, and some retired senior police officers.
Egbetokun said a lot of arrests were made during the period under review, signifying that “substantial progress has been recorded, driven by the implementation of various strategies to address the rising wave of crimes in the country.”
The IG said the launch of the Special Intervention Squad in the Federal Capital Territory had started to yield positive dividends.
He said, “Significant strides have also been made in maintaining law and order and combating criminal activities, including but not limited to kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry, insurgency, and secessionist groups.
“During this period, the Nigeria Police Force recorded 35 cases of terrorism/secessionist attacks, 302 cases of murder, 111 cases of armed robbery, 172 cases of kidnapping, 67 cases of banditry, and 15 cases of unlawful possession of firearms.
“By executing some of the strategies and plans formulated at the last conference, the Nigeria Police Force arrested 814 suspects for their participation in various crimes, rescued 107 kidnapped victims and recovered 166 various firearms, 1,074 ammunition and 41 vehicles.”
He also cited the “peaceful and successful conduct of the run-off and by-elections across 26 states of Nigeria on February 3, 2024,” as another evidence of the success recorded by the police.
“Whilst the majority of the elections proceeded smoothly, there were pockets of challenges encountered in some areas. In response, the police took swift action, making several arrests to prevent the disruption of the electoral process.
“In total, 14 suspects, including two public officials, were apprehended across the affected states. In Akwa Ibom State, a locally-made pistol was recovered, while a suspected thug was lynched by members of the public in Kaduna State,” the IG said.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters on Thursday said troops in various theatres of operations in the northern part of the country have killed 371 terrorists and arrested a total of 568 so far in 2024.
The military high command also said a total of 202 kidnapped victims were rescued within the period under review.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Buba Edward, disclosed this in Abuja while briefing journalists on the activities of the troops across the country.
Buba also said crude oil worth over N2.8bn had been recovered.
He said, “In January 2024, troops recorded the following: neutralised 266 terrorists, arrested 463 violent extremists/insurgents, and rescued 116 kidnapped hostages.
“Furthermore, troops recovered 447 assorted weapons and 6,697 assorted ammunition.
In January 2024, troops operating in the SS denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of N2.8bn.
“Meanwhile, during the last one week, troops neutralised 105 terrorists and arrested 140 of them.
Troops also arrested 26 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 86 kidnapped hostages. In the SS, troops denied the oil theft of the estimated sum of N220m.”
