The Nigeria Police Force has announced that its tactical operatives successfully rescued 12 abductees, apprehended multiple criminal suspects, and seized various dangerous items including rocket launchers, firearms, ammunition, and illicit substances during coordinated nationwide raids across eight states.
The operations, conducted between October 1 and 2, 2026, were recorded in Sokoto, Taraba, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Cross River, Benue and Ebonyi states.
In Sokoto, police tactical teams, Anti-Kidnapping Unit and VCRU operatives repelled an attack by armed bandits at Tsabre Village, forcing the attackers to flee into the forest.
A follow-up search recovered two rocket launchers, two empty AK-47 magazines, a mobile phone, torchlight, army jungle hat, sweater cap, five pairs of sandals and a rain jacket.
No casualty was recorded among security personnel or villagers, according to the Police.
In Taraba, police rescue teams secured the release of three of five kidnapped victims following sustained operational pressure.
The victims were rescued unharmed and reunited with their families.
Ogun recorded another major rescue operation, with nine kidnapped travellers freed unhurt by the Police and other security agencies.
The victims were subsequently debriefed and reunited with their families.
Police operations in Oyo also led to the arrest of three suspected armed robbers in Sabo, Ibadan, with an iPhone 7 Plus belonging to a deceased robbery victim recovered.
In Akwa Ibom, three suspects were arrested at a criminal hideout in Uyo, where substances suspected to be cannabis sativa and other illicit drugs were recovered.
Another suspect was arrested during a stop-and-search operation with a locally fabricated long gun, machete and gunpowder.
In Benue, personnel of Operation Zenda JTF responded to an ambush by armed bandits along the Amaafu-Abaji Road, killing one suspected bandit and recovering a locally fabricated firearm.
The Police said no personnel was killed in the encounter.
Police also reported arrests and firearm recoveries in Cross River and Ebonyi states.
Investigations into the various incidents are ongoing at the respective State Criminal Investigation Departments.
What You Should Know
Security forces conducted swift, multi-state operations between October 1 and 2, neutralizing threats, dismantling criminal hideouts, and rescuing hostages in states such as Sokoto, Taraba, Ogun, and others. These actions demonstrate proactive law enforcement intervention against banditry and kidnapping.
- Positive Impact: Enhanced safety for travelers and rural communities, quick reunion of families with abducted loved ones, and the removal of heavy military-grade weapons from criminal hands.
- Potential Concerns: The recovery of rocket launchers highlights the dangerous sophistication and heavy firepower accessible to criminal networks across the country.
