The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), has recorded major breakthroughs in its ongoing fight against violent crimes, including kidnapping, with coordinated operations in Akwa Ibom and Nasarawa States leading to the rescue of a victim, arrest of suspects, and recovery of sophisticated firearms, ammunition, and millions of naira, Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi revealed this in a statement.
In Akwa Ibom State, police operatives attached to Eket Division, in collaboration with officers from Ikot Udota Division and youths of Afia Nsit community, foiled a suspected kidnapping attempt on Factory Road, Afia Nsit, Eket, on August 16, 2025.
The swift response led to the rescue of one Emerson, a kidnap victim, and the arrest of two suspects identified as Okon Edem Okon and Emmanuel Bassey.
A search of an uncompleted building in a nearby bush uncovered a cache of arms including one AK-47 rifle, one assault rifle, 67 rounds of ammunition, a pump-action shotgun with six cartridges, six magazines, and a mobile phone believed to belong to the hoodlums.
Police said efforts are ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the gang.
In a separate operation in Nasarawa State, operatives of Garaku Police Division intercepted a lone motor crash involving an Opel Vectra vehicle near the VIO checkpoint at Angwan Mayo community on August 18, 2025.
The two occupants of the vehicle fled the scene, abandoning the car.
Upon searching the vehicle, police recovered a G3 rifle, which was later complemented by further discoveries at the police station.
Items recovered included an AK-47 rifle, one Type 06 rifle, another G3 rifle, three magazines, 57 rounds of live ammunition, and a total cash sum of ₦6,908,150.
Following an intensive manhunt in collaboration with the military, police arrested one of the fleeing suspects, identified as Mohammed Tahir from Barkin Ladi, Plateau State.
Tahir confessed to being part of a seven-man kidnap gang responsible for the abduction of a lawyer in Nyanya, Abuja, from whom ransom had been collected.
Police authorities assured that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the criminal gangs, and all arrested suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
