Olukayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police, revealed on Thursday that the Nigeria Police Force received reports of 302 murders, 172 abductions, 35 terror attacks, and 111 armed robberies in the previous three months alone.
He said the instances were recorded between December 2023 and February 2024.
The IG announced this at Force Headquarters at a meeting with Deputy Inspectors General of Police, Assistant Inspectors General of Police, Commissioners of Police, and several retired senior police personnel.
Egbetokun stated that a large number of arrests were made during the review period, indicating that “substantial progress has been recorded, driven by the implementation of various strategies to address the rising wave of crimes in the country.”
According to the IG, the establishment of the Special Intervention Squad in the Federal Capital Territory has begun to have beneficial results.
He said:
“Significant strides have also been made in maintaining law and order and combating criminal activities, including but not limited to kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry, insurgency, and secessionist groups.
“During this period, the Nigeria Police Force recorded 35 cases of terrorism/secessionist attacks, 302 cases of murder, 111 cases of armed robbery, 172 cases of kidnapping, 67 cases of banditry, and 15 cases of unlawful possession of firearms.
“By executing some of the strategies and plans formulated at the last conference, the Nigeria Police Force arrested 814 suspects for their participation in various crimes, rescued 107 kidnapped victims and recovered 166 various firearms, 1,074 ammunition and 41 vehicles.
“Peaceful and successful conduct of the run-off and by-elections across 26 states of Nigeria on February 3, 2024,” as another evidence of the success recorded by the police.
“Whilst the majority of the elections proceeded smoothly, there were pockets of challenges encountered in some areas. In response, the police took swift action, making several arrests to prevent the disruption of the electoral process.
“In total, 14 suspects, including two public officials, were apprehended across the affected states. In Akwa Ibom State, a locally-made pistol was recovered, while a suspected thug was lynched by members of the public in Kaduna State.”
cc: Punch Ng
