Police recover 52 stolen vehicles, nab 177 criminals in one week — Official - Punch Newspapers

The Nigeria Police Force says it recovered 52 stolen vehicles and arrested 177 high-profile criminal suspects across the country during operations conducted between September 12 and 18, 2026. The force also said it rescued 25 kidnapped victims, recovered 38 assorted firearms and 2,578 rounds of live ammunition, while 11 high-profile armed suspects were neutralised during the period under review. In a post obtained from the force’s X handle on Wednesday, the figures were disclosed Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police Ani Iniedu, during a weekly operational briefing. “We recovered 52 stolen vehicles and neutralized 11 high-profile armed suspects during decisive operational engagements nationwide. Our top outstanding operational successes include” Kaduna State Police Command kidnapping camps dismantled, four kidnappers neutralized, 12 suspects arrested, two kidnapped victims rescued,” he said. According to Inyedu, the operations were conducted as part of the Force’s intelligence-led and collaborative approach to tackling criminal activities nationwide.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google “Through intelligence-led tactical operations, the force has made a total of 177 arrests of high-profile criminal suspects involved in armed robbery, kidnappings, banditry, terrorism, gun running, murders and homicides across Nigeria.” She added that the Force had recovered significant quantities of weapons and ammunition alongside the rescued victims and stolen vehicles. Among the operations highlighted was an intervention by the Kaduna State Police Command, where four suspected kidnappers were neutralised, 12 suspects arrested and two kidnapped victims rescued. In Imo State, police said they dislodged a camp linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra’s armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, following an operation in Oguta Local Government Area. One AK-47 rifle, two magazines containing 52 rounds of ammunition and a hand grenade were reportedly recovered. The Katsina State Police Command also reported rescuing three kidnapped women and recovering an AK-47 rifle following a gun battle with suspected bandits. In Delta State, police said four suspects were arrested over an alleged online abduction operation in Asaba. According to the Force, the suspects allegedly lured victims through TikTok, held them captive and unlawfully accessed one victim’s bank account. Police also reported the interception of three suspects in Zamfara State, where 1,123 rounds of assorted live ammunition were allegedly discovered concealed inside a Toyota Corolla. In another operation in Anambra State, two kidnapped victims were rescued after police and local vigilantes pursued five armed suspects who had allegedly abducted a woman. Summing up the week’s operations, Inyedu said the results reflected the Force’s continued efforts to combat criminal networks. “During the week under review, Nigerian Police Force has demonstrated sustained operational effectiveness across the country.” She said the Force would continue its operations to address threats to public safety and national security. “Operations will still continue relentlessly until all threats to national security are neutralized.” Gilbert Ekugbe Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.

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