The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has announced that nationwide anti-crime operations conducted between June 9 and June 21, 2026, led to the arrest of 1,198 suspects across the country.
Speaking at a monthly conference with strategic senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja, the IGP said the arrests covered various offences, alongside significant recoveries of illegal arms, stolen vehicles, and the rescue of abducted victims.
He said, “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.”
The police chief also disclosed that 166 kidnap victims were rescued during the operations, while a large cache of weapons and stolen vehicles was recovered.
“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,” Disu said.
He noted that every success recorded was made possible by police personnel who carried out their duties diligently, often at great personal risk.
Highlighting recent operational achievements, the IGP described the successful rescue of abducted students and teachers in Oyo State as a model of effective joint security operations.
However, he cautioned senior officers against becoming complacent because of recent successes.
“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,” the IGP said.
Addressing the country’s evolving security challenges, Disu directed Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police to move beyond routine deployments and adopt intelligence-driven, threat-based strategies tailored to the realities of their respective commands.
“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,” he said.
The IGP stressed that the effectiveness of police leadership would be measured by security outcomes rather than the number of operations conducted.
He also directed every command to carry out post-operation reviews to strengthen future tactical planning.
“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,” he said.
Disu also urged Nigerians to continue partnering with law enforcement agencies by providing timely and actionable information.
“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,” he said.
