Olatunji Disu, the Inspector General of Police has revealed that a string of successful nationwide anti-crime operations carried out between June 9 and June 21, 2026 has led to the arrest of 1,198 suspects across the federation.
The IG disclosed that the arrests spanned various offences, alongside significant recoveries of illegal arms and stolen vehicles and the rescue of abducted victims. He made this disclosure while Speaking at a monthly conference with strategic senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja.
“Since 9th June 2026, anti-crime operations across the Federation have led to the arrest of 1,198 suspects for various offences. That figure breaks down as follows: 151 suspects for murder and culpable homicide, 117 for armed robbery, 151 for kidnapping, and 104 suspected cultists. A further 169 persons were arrested for unlawful possession of firearms.
“Our operations also led to the rescue of 166 kidnap victims. We recovered 166 assorted firearms and 1,475 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, along with 47 stolen vehicles.
“The successful rescue of the abducted students and teachers in Oyo State deserves particular mention. It is a clear example of what we can achieve when Nigeria’s security agencies work together with a genuine sense of common purpose. The operation succeeded because of close collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, other security and intelligence agencies, and members of the public who came forward with timely, credible information.
“A win like this should sharpen our resolve, not soften it. We cannot let a success like Oyo breed complacency. Every achievement should push us to improve further, not to relax.
“Nigeria’s security environment remains demanding. We have recorded real successes in recent months, but terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, cult-related violence, cybercrime and other organised criminal activity continue to evolve, and we have to evolve faster than they do. Every deployment should be guided by credible intelligence and a sound assessment of the threat, not habit or routine.
“I want to be clear about what success looks like. It is not the number of operations we run. It is the security outcomes those operations produce. I expect every Commissioner of Police to build a command-specific strategy that reflects the realities on the ground in your state. An institution that keeps learning stays effective.
“Lasting security depends on genuine partnership between the police and the communities we serve. I encourage every Nigerian to stay alert and to keep reporting suspicious activity. Every piece of information matters. If you see something, say something,”