By Ojochenemi Onje

Copyright businessday

The Nigeria Police Force said that it arrested 4,383 suspects and rescued 1,138 kidnapped victims across the country in the last two months

Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), described the figures as proof of the Force’s renewed resolve to dominate criminal spaces and restore public confidence in law enforcement.

Egbetokun also declared that the Nigeria Police Force must reinvent its strategies, strengthen accountability, and recalibrate leadership if it is to effectively tackle Nigeria’s increasingly complex security challenges.

Speaking at the Strategic Police Officers Conference held in Abuja on Tuesday, the Police Chief warned that the Force can no longer rely on outdated tactics in the face of evolving criminal threats.

Egbetokun revealed that in two months between July 31 and September 23, police operations nationwide led to the arrest of 4,383 suspects for various offences ranging from armed robbery and kidnapping to cultism, rape, and unlawful possession of firearms.

Within the same period, officers also recovered 716 assorted firearms, over 21,000 rounds of ammunition, more than 200 vehicles, and successfully rescued 1,138 kidnapped victims.

He stressed that these figures were not mere statistics but represented lives saved, families reunited, and communities restored to peace.

He described policing in Nigeria as being in a period of intense complexity, where criminals are blending physical violence with cyber tactics, local knowledge with transnational networks, and petty motives with ideological drives.

He listed armed banditry, secessionist violence, ritual killings, financial fraud, gender-based crimes, and electoral violence as overlapping threats that demand a new mindset, seamless coordination, and deliberate leadership.

The IGP highlighted major operations that underscored the Force’s growing tactical agility.

“In Delta State, a swift response to an armed robbery in Ogwashi-Ukwu led to the arrest of suspects and the recovery of weapons and stolen items. In Edo State, a suspect travelling with fabricated pistols, ammunition, and a stolen Lexus RX 330 was intercepted, while 16 kidnapped victims were rescued from a highway ambush.

“Across the South-East, police operatives dismantled IPOB/ESN strongholds, seizing assault rifles, explosives, and operational vehicles. In the South-West, multiple kidnap syndicates were broken up, particularly in Oyo, Ogun, and Itesiwaju, leading to arrests, recovery of ransom money, and rescue of victims. In Abeokuta, a kidnapping attempt was foiled and five hostages rescued without casualties”, he mentioned.

He further pointed to decisive action during the August by-elections in Kano, where 333 suspects were apprehended for offences including conspiracy, intimidation, and ballot snatching, with firearms, machetes, and millions of naira recovered as exhibits.

“In Zamfara, police operatives arrested 13 bandit collaborators and rescued 19 kidnapped victims, strengthening security along volatile corridors”, he added.

According to him, these successes were not isolated events but part of a growing pattern of coordinated response, inter-agency synergy, and intelligence-led policing.

Egbetokun, however, cautioned that operational victories must not be allowed to “die in silence.”

He warned that many Commands were still guilty of underreporting major breakthroughs, which weakens public confidence in the Force.

He stressed that timely reporting and transparent communication were as critical as field operations in restoring trust between citizens and the police.

The IGP also issued a stern warning against the misuse of police authority in civil disputes, particularly in land matters.

He said the Police Force is not and would never become an enforcer for private interests, insisting that officers have no business disrupting legally occupied properties or meddling in civil claims without clear criminal elements.

Any officer found guilty of such misconduct, he added, would face disciplinary measures.

Egbetokun emphasised that the so-called “Ember Months” have historically been marked by spikes in violent crime, including robbery, kidnapping, ritual killings, and highway banditry.

He directed senior officers to step up visibility policing, expand patrols to feeder routes and forest corridors, and deepen community engagement to deter criminal activity.

He reminded the officers that leadership by example is central to the Force’s credibility.

“Your tone becomes the culture of your Commands. If you cut corners, so will your officers. If you dismiss misconduct, impunity will multiply. What you tolerate becomes your culture, and what you ignore defines your legacy”, he stated.

Egbetokun urged senior police officers to translate the lessons from the conference into deliberate action.

He said the Nigeria Police Force owes its officers clarity, its citizens protection, its badge integrity, and the nation a resilient institution that does not falter even in the face of adversity.