The Police have made remarkable strides in ensuring the safety and security of all Nigerians within the one year of IGP Egbetokun by apprehending 4,826 armed robbery suspects, 3,078 kidnapping suspects, 2,479 suspects for rape/sexual crimes, 1,243 suspects for unlawful possession of firearms, 3,523 suspects for cultism, 3,381 suspects for murder/homicide and13,402 suspects for other offences.
In a similar vein, 29,152 criminal cases nationwide have been successfully prosecuted by the NPF this year. 11,576 of these are still under trial, while 17,679 of them have been definitively dismissed. Furthermore, 51 cases are being appealed in the appropriate appellate courts at this time. Remarkably, out of 16,200 cases that were filed, suspects were found guilty and sentenced to different kinds of punishment for their illegal activities.
However, The Force Public Relations Officers, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Wednesday paraded 19 suspects involved in various illicit activities.
Among these is a case of kidnapping involving one Muhammad Abubakar aged 24 and Shehu Muhammad aged 35 both from Zamfara State. The duo were apprehended in possession of an AK-47 rifle and some magazines, through a coordinated effort between FID-IRT operatives and local vigilantes in Asawa village, Kogi State. These suspects have been responsible for a series of robberies in Benin and multiple kidnappings in Okene, Kogi State. They received a total of 3.3 million Naira in ransom from four operations.
Also, a gang comprising Ibrahim Shehu aged 30, Ibrahim Ardo aged 32, Ibrahim Amodu aged 50, Ibrahim Mohammed aged 50, and Ayo Johnson aged 30 were arrested for their role in supplying arms and ammunition to armed militias and bandits operating within the North Central region. 1 AK-47 rifle, 3 AK-49 rifles, 80 rounds of live ammunition, and 57 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition were recovered from the suspects.
Concerted efforts also led to the arrest of some gun runners comprising Clement Joshua aged 52, Raymond Emanya aged 65, and Ishaya Ajiji Musa age 40 who were arrested based on intelligence and interception from the Technical Intelligence Unit and the FID-IRT operatives in Plateau State. The suspects confessed to supplying arms and ammunition to criminal elements in several states. Exhibits recovered include a bulletproof jacket, pump action with breech number 22P-0397, binoculars, 32 red cartridges, 50 white RIO cartridges, hunter’s t-shirts, cutlass, and more.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police has reiterated the steadfastness of the Police to ensure a safer and more secure country while appreciating the continued support of the public which has been instrumental in achieving these feats.
He urged all citizens and residents in the country to report all suspicious activities to the nearest police station for proper investigation leaving nothing to chance.
