Odita Sunday 
Police Rescue 102 Kidnap Victims, Arrest 78 Suspects in Nationwide Operations
By Odita Sunday
The Nigeria Police Force rescued 102 kidnapped victims, arrested 78 high-profile criminal suspects and recovered 26 firearms in operations conducted across the country between August 17 and 21, 2026.
The Force disclosed this in its weekly operational briefing dated August 21, saying the operations also led to the recovery of 268 rounds of assorted live ammunition and 21 vehicles, while 13 armed suspects were neutralised in various gun duels.
According to the briefing, the suspects arrested were linked to terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, cult-related violence and murder.
The Force said the operational successes were recorded under the strategic leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, through what it described as a proactive, intelligence-led and community-collaborative policing strategy.
One of the major breakthroughs occurred in Kaduna State, where police operatives rescued 75 persons allegedly abducted by armed Yan-Sakai vigilantes at Polwaya Village.
The victims were reportedly fleeing farmer-herder clashes in Kebbi State when they were abducted on August 19 and hidden in a cave.
According to the Force, police detectives mobilised to the area following intelligence on the incident, forcing the abductors to flee.
“All 75 victims were rescued unhurt with their belongings and conveyed to the Area Command Office for debriefing and medical examination,” the Force said.
In Benue State, 13 kidnapped victims were rescued during a night operation at Amla-Cho Forest on August 20.
The victims had earlier been abducted while travelling to Abuja.
The Force said joint tactical teams and Police Mobile Force personnel stormed the forest, forcing the armed bandits to flee when confronted with superior firepower.
In Anambra State, two suspected armed hoodlums were killed during a gun duel with police operatives along Eziowelle Road.
The suspects, who were allegedly dressed in military camouflage, opened fire on the operatives after they were intercepted on August 19.
An AK-47 rifle, a pump-action gun and 40 rounds of assorted live ammunition were recovered from the suspects.
The Enugu State Command also foiled an abduction and car-snatching operation along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
The Force said five armed hoodlums abducted three victims and snatched a black Lexus RX350 on August 18, but police operatives gave chase, forcing the criminals to abandon the vehicle and weapons and flee.
The three victims were rescued unharmed, while a fabricated pistol, five rounds of assorted live ammunition and the stolen Lexus were recovered.
In another operation in Enugu State, police arrested three suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network following raids on their hideouts in Awgu and Oji-River Local Government Areas.
The operation, conducted on August 17 following credible intelligence, led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, 55 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, three magazines, an explosive device and three machetes.
In Ebonyi State, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad dismantled a four-man kidnapping syndicate, arrested its alleged leader, Stephen Job Jnr, and rescued a female victim identified as Chigbo Lucky.
The Force said the syndicate had first attempted to abduct a police officer before kidnapping the woman.
Operatives intercepted the gang at Ebebe Junction, Abakaliki, where the victim was rescued unharmed and the syndicate’s operational vehicle recovered.
In Yobe State, police operatives responding to an attack on a residence in Fika Local Government Area neutralised one suspect and arrested another identified as Halidu Lamida.
The Force said armed hoodlums had invaded the residence of Umar Lamido on August 18 and shot him in the abdomen before engaging responding police operatives in a gun battle.
The injured victim was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment.
In Katsina State, police operatives foiled an ambush by armed bandits along the Sabuwa-Marabar Yakawada Road.
According to the Force, the bandits attacked security personnel on routine patrol on August 17, prompting the Divisional Police Officer to mobilise a tactical team.
The police engaged the attackers in a sustained gunfight, forcing them to retreat.
“No loss of life or firearm was recorded,” the Force said, adding that patrol activities had been intensified in the area.
However, 24 people were killed when gunmen attacked Bin’per community in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attack occurred at about 1:30am on August 18.
The Police said their operatives recovered 24 corpses from the scene and arrested one suspect, Yakubu Shanono, in connection with the attack.
Additional military reinforcements were subsequently deployed to the area, while police operatives launched a coordinated manhunt for other suspects.
The Force said the week’s operations demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led and community-collaborative policing in tackling violent crime and protecting citizens.
“The recovery of multiple firearms, ammunition, vehicles, and the mass rescue of kidnapped victims further underscores the impact of intelligence-led community-collaborative policing model,” the Force said.
It assured Nigerians that security operations would continue relentlessly until threats to national security were neutralised.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to public safety, institutional reform, and the protection of all citizens,” the Force said.
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