The Nigeria Police Force (NPR) has arrested at least 10 suspected criminals and recovered firearms, a stolen Lexus SUV, mobile phones, laptops, cattle, and other valuables in separate operations across several states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The operations, carried out between August 22 and 25, also prompted coordinated search and rescue efforts for victims of kidnapping in Oyo, FCT, Bauchi, and Zamfara states.
The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in the State-by-State Executive Summary of the Force’s operational successes for August 26, 2026, issued from the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
In Oyo State, police operatives arrested two suspected members of a trans-border armed robbery syndicate allegedly involved in the theft of exotic vehicles across Kwara and Oyo states.
According to the statement, intelligence led operatives to deploy along the Ibadan-Ilorin Expressway to arrest the suspects after intercepting a stolen Lexus RX 350.
The suspects reportedly abandoned the vehicle and fled into the bush, but a sustained pursuit led to the arrest of Adewale Abiola, 33, and Kabiru Abobarin, 36, also known as KB.
Police recovered the stolen Lexus, four HP laptops, an iPhone 15 Pro Max, seven wristwatches, and jewellery belonging to the victim.
The State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Ibadan is investigating the case.
In Akwa Ibom State, five suspected armed robbers were arrested by detectives of the Eagle Response Squad following an investigation into an armed robbery.
The suspects were reportedly identified through CCTV footage and confessed to the crime.
Two locally-made pistols and two shirts allegedly worn during the operation were recovered.
Similarly, in Ekiti State, three suspected cultists were arrested following an attack by armed hoodlums in Ijadu Community.
Police operatives who responded to the incident engaged the attackers and arrested three suspects, recovering a locally-made single-barrel gun, an axe, an expended cartridge shell, charms, and other exhibits.
The police said efforts were ongoing to arrest fleeing members of the group, including its alleged leader.
In Lagos State, a suspected armed robber was arrested at Alakija after police operatives responding to a distress call during a stop-and-search operation apprehended the suspect.
A prototype short gun, two suspected stolen Android phones, cash and other exhibits were recovered, while efforts continued to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.
In Gombe State, police responding to an armed robbery in Pata, Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area, recovered two stolen cows from a bush at Daban Magarya Village, Balanga LGA.
The victim reportedly sustained fatal injuries.
Police said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and recover a stolen motorcycle.
In the FCT, police recovered an abandoned Toyota Prado Jeep at a car wash in Mpape after an unidentified person left the vehicle there and failed to return for it.
The vehicle was photographed, recovered, and towed to the police station for safe custody and further investigation.
Meanwhile, the Police Force said it had activated joint search and rescue operations following separate kidnapping incidents in Oyo, FCT, Bauchi, and Zamfara states.
In Oyo State, police operatives, Amotekun Corps members, vigilantes, and local hunters mobilised following the abduction of a resident at Taaju Settlement, Iseyin.
The Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad subsequently reinforced the operation, with intensive bush-combing underway to locate and rescue the victim.
In the FCT, police operatives and local vigilantes launched a joint tracking operation following the abduction of a 51-year-old man at Bobota Village, Kwali.
Three empty K-2 ammunition shells were recovered from the scene as security personnel intensified efforts to track the victim’s mobile phone, rescue him and arrest the abductors.
Also in Bauchi State, police operatives from the relevant division and the Anti-Kidnapping Unit mobilised after a woman was abducted from her residence at Lamba Village, Itas/Gadau Local Government Area.
Surrounding areas were being combed in an effort to rescue the victim and apprehend the perpetrators.
Zamfara State recorded multiple abductions following separate armed attacks along the Fegin Mahe-Mada and Shemori-Mada roads in Gusau Local Government Area.
Police tactical teams and other security personnel launched search and pursuit operations.
The police said the corpses of victims killed during the attacks were evacuated to hospitals for autopsy.
In a separate attack at Take Tsaba Village, Talata Mafara LGA, Police VCRU operatives and military personnel visited the scene and commenced combing surrounding bushes in an effort to rescue abducted persons and apprehend the attackers.
The police said the various cases were under investigation by the SCID in the affected commands, while investigations and operations to apprehend fleeing suspects and rescue kidnapped victims were ongoing.