Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force said it foiled kidnapping attempts across eight states on Christmas Day and arrested a total of 23 suspects.
The police operations, which spanned states such as Lagos, Kaduna, Delta, Ogun, Katsina, Benue, Imo, and the Federal Capital Territory, also led to the recovery of dangerous weapons, including a fabricated AK-47 rifle.
In a statement on Friday by the Force Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, the feat was achieved as part of the anti-crime strategy directed by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Adejobi said three suspects targeting fun seekers were arrested in Lagos on Christmas Day.
He said, “On the 25th of December 2024, at about 1 am, the police operatives attached to Lagos State Command, received a distress call that a group of hoodlums armed with dangerous weapons was operating around the Safejo area of Amukoko, Lagos State.
“The swift response by the police operatives to the scene led to the arrest of 3 of the suspected hoodlums identified as Emmanuel Okoli ‘m’, 20 years, Ogunde Tejiri ‘m’, 20 years, and Emmanuel Orji ‘m’, 18 years, and also the recovery of the weapons they had used in carrying out robbery attacks on innocent fun-seekers in the area.
The police have deployed intensified searches to apprehend the fleeing members of the gang.”
Adejobi also said in Kaduna State, a significant breakthrough was recorded as operatives from the Saminaka Division arrested Sule Muhammad, a suspect linked to multiple kidnappings in the area.
He said, “In a similar development, Police Operatives attached to the Saminaka Division of the Kaduna State Command on 25th December 2024, at about 8 pm, successfully apprehended one Sule Muhammad ‘m’, 25 years old, who has been actively involved in multiple kidnapping incidents within the Saminaka area.
“Further investigation led to the recovery of a fabricated AK-47 rifle from the suspect. The suspect confessed to being a member of a notorious kidnapping gang who had been evading arrest since the arrest of other gang members on August 16, 2024, until his recent arrest on 25th December 2024.
“Following cooperation received from Muhammad, efforts are in top gear to apprehend other members of his gang and recover more arms and ammunition in their identified camp.”
He added that similar successes were recorded in other states, with multiple suspects arrested for various criminal activities.