Police
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) recorded significant operational breakthroughs across seven states on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, busting kidnapping rings, disarming violent cult groups, interdicting drug trafficking networks, and apprehending suspected terror financiers.
In an official bulletin released by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the central administration outlined high-stakes tactical operations coordinated across Delta, Benue, Abia, Sokoto, Anambra, Kano, and Oyo States.
A violent gun duel erupted near the Uduere Community in Ughelli North LGA, Delta State, where police operatives raided a hideout belonging to a syndicate of kidnappers and armed robbers.
The suspects fled into the brush with gunshot injuries, leaving behind an arsenal that included an AK-47 rifle, two magazines, 55 rounds of live ammunition, a pump-action shotgun, seven live cartridges, edge weapons, and suspected narcotics.
In Benue State, joint tactical teams engaged armed bandits in a forest shootout, successfully forcing the assailants to flee and abandon four kidnapped victims.
The operational team rescued all four individuals unhurt and recovered their hijacked commercial vehicle.
In Osisioma LGA, Abia State, operatives tracked down a kidnapping cell to secure the safe rescue of 18-year-old Ifeoma Obinna. Three suspects were arrested at the scene, and police recovered daggers alongside the victim’s stolen mobile device.
Meanwhile, Delta State operatives exposed a simulated abduction in Ejeme-Unor Community. Investigations revealed that 16-year-old Ifunanya Chiwetalu staged her own kidnapping to extort money from her family.
One accomplice was taken into custody alongside four live cartridges, battle axes, a walkie-talkie, and tactical gear.
In Sokoto State, intelligence-led operations intercepted two suspected bandit informants and terrorism logistics financiers.
The suspects were apprehended while transporting two motorcycles and 10 jerrycans of petroleum products intended for armed bandit camps in the backcountry.
Anti-cultism and gang interdiction sweeps yielded heavy arrests in the southern and northern corridors:
Anambra State: Operatives raided Okpoko, arresting nine suspected cult members and seizing a firearm, live ammunition, a machete, and paraphernalia.
Kano State: Police stormed a hoodlum enclave in Hotoro Mahautar Gabas, taking 13 suspects into custody alongside a cache of axes, cutlasses, iron rods, and knives.
In a separate incident in Kano, rapid police intervention halted a violent outbreak between rival political campaign supporters, resulting in the arrest of a suspect linked to live gunfire.
In Oyo State, police intercepted a Lexus GX 470 carrying counterfeit registration plates. The stop resulted in the arrest of three suspects, including an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service and the seizure of Canadian Loud, Codeine, and illicit local cannabis strains.
In a separate response to a robbery distress call in Oyo, police combed nearby brushlands to arrest 25-year-old Abiodun Musibau Olalekan, recovering a stolen motorcycle and mobile phone.
All arrested suspects and recovered exhibits have been transferred to their respective State Criminal Investigation Departments (SCID) in Asaba, Makurdi, Umuahia, Sokoto, Awka, Bompai, and Ibadan for further investigation and prosecution.
