By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Nigeria Police Force has reported the neutralisation of a suspected terrorist, the rescue of kidnapped victims and the arrest of at least 38 suspects in separate operations across several states.
The operational successes were contained in a state-by-state executive summary released by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, on Tuesday. The report covered incidents recorded between September 12 and 15, 2026.
In Kebbi State, police operatives, working alongside military personnel, neutralised one suspected terrorist during a clearance operation in Gumki Village, Arewa Local Government Area.
According to the report, the operation led to the recovery of “one PKT rifle with 174 rounds of live ammunition, one AK-47 rifle with 14 rounds of live ammunition, four motorcycles, phones and other exhibits.”
In Katsina State, police operatives engaged suspected bandits in a gun duel following the abduction of two women in Sha’Iskawa Fulani Village, Kankia Local Government Area.
The police said the operatives overpowered the assailants, forcing them to abandon the victims and flee into the bush with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.
“Both victims were successfully rescued unharmed,” the report stated.
In Kaduna State, police operatives rescued a kidnap victim during search-and-rescue operations around Arabu Forest in Makarfi Local Government Area.
The victim was medically evaluated before being reunited with his family, according to the police.
Meanwhile, in Kogi State, joint security operatives arrested a suspected kidnapper following an armed attack on a vehicle along the Okene-Ogori-Magongo-Lagos Highway.
The suspect was arrested during a follow-up operation in the surrounding forest axis, while several exhibits were recovered.
In Ekiti State, police arrested a suspected kidnapper and fraudster during a night operation along the Ekiti State University-Osekita Road.
The police said operatives recovered a Toyota Venza valued at ₦10.5 million, 255 SIM cards, four mobile phones, an international passport, tramadol and other exhibits.
In Sokoto State, technical operatives arrested a suspected bandit informant in Wamakko Local Government Area and recovered ₦900,000 allegedly collected as part of a levy imposed on a community.
The suspect, according to the police, was providing useful information to aid the arrest of other members of the gang.
In Ogun State, three suspected members of an armed robbery gang linked to attacks in Agbado and adjoining areas were arrested. Three expanded cartridges were recovered from the suspects.
Similarly, police in Akwa Ibom State arrested six suspected armed robbery gang members following investigations into their activities across Ikono, Ini and Obot Akara local government areas.
Two single-barrel guns, a motorcycle, three laptops and other exhibits were recovered during the operation.
In Delta State, separate police operations resulted in the arrest of 17 suspects and the recovery of locally fabricated firearms, live ammunition, illicit drugs, cannabis-related items, a battle axe, mobile phones and a laptop.
In Rivers State, police arrested a fleeing suspect in Bonny following a manhunt operation and recovered an English-made Beretta pistol allegedly abandoned by the suspect.
The Force also reported the arrest of a suspect in Jigawa State over the alleged rape of an eight-year-old girl in Ringim Local Government Area.
The police said investigations into the various cases were ongoing at the respective State Criminal Investigation Departments.