Police Rescue 21 Abducted Victims, Arrest Suspects, Recover Arms Across States
The rescue of 21 abducted people, including 14 NYSC corps members, has emerged as one of the major operational successes recorded by the Nigeria Police Force in its latest nationwide security operations.
The victims were rescued on Monday after joint security forces engaged kidnappers in a gun battle in the forest behind Agumi in Kogi State.
Police said superior firepower forced the kidnappers to flee, allowing the victims to be brought to safety.
Those injured were taken to hospital, while the rescued victims were debriefed and statements obtained.
In Zamfara, security forces also rescued all passengers abducted after armed bandits intercepted a passenger truck and set the vehicle ablaze.
The attackers fled into the forest after a gun duel with security personnel, with some believed to have sustained gunshot injuries.
Security operations in Katsina similarly disrupted an attempted cattle-rustling operation at Sha’iskawa Village.
Police and vigilantes engaged the bandits before re-engaging them at Karofawa Village, forcing them to retreat.
The operations also yielded several arrests and weapons recoveries.
In Plateau State, police arrested Buba Abdulkarim at Gwaram Village, Wase Local Government Area, and recovered an AK-47 rifle loaded with two rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
In Abia, two suspects were arrested in Umuahia and a locally made pistol recovered from a Chevrolet vehicle.
In Bayelsa, police recovered a locally made revolver loaded with three rounds of live ammunition after armed men fled from a residence they had allegedly invaded.
Oyo State recorded arrests in separate violent-crime cases.
Three suspects were arrested following a youth clash in Mapo, Ibadan, in which one person was killed and another injured.
Police recovered a pump-action rifle, two empty cartridges and one live cartridge.
Police also arrested Yusuff Muhammed over the fatal machete attack on Suleiman Haruna during a naming ceremony in Oyo.
Meanwhile, Ogun State Police arrested two suspects, Victor Obilor and Kabiru Umar, over the alleged defilement of a nine-year-old girl and indecent assault of an 11-year-old girl.
The victims were taken to hospital for medical examination.
In Rivers State, police said calm was restored after a protest demanding justice over a fatal shooting.
The protesters dispersed peacefully after the Commissioner of Police addressed them, while an internal disciplinary process, including an Orderly Room trial, commenced against the affected officers.
The Force also reported that adequate security was provided for the North-Central Regional Security Summit held at the Benue State Government House in Makurdi, which ended peacefully.
The latest operations underline the breadth of security challenges confronting police formations across the country, from kidnapping and banditry to violent clashes, sexual offences and firearm-related crimes, while also highlighting the continuing reliance on joint security operations to rescue victims and disrupt armed criminal groups.
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