The Nigeria Police Force announced the arrest of thousands of suspects involved in various criminal activities over the past five weeks. This includes 288 robbery, 187 kidnapping, and 198 homicide suspects. An additional 59 individuals were detained for possession of illegal firearms, and 168 for sexual offenses.Â
During this period, the police also rescued 71 kidnapped victims and recovered 127 firearms, 612 rounds of assorted ammunition, and 89 stolen vehicles.Â
Acting Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, shared these figures at the Force Headquarters in Abuja during a meeting with senior police officials. He highlighted the decline in the country’s overall crime rate, attributing the successes to concerted efforts from the police force, governmental support, and public cooperation.
He stated, “Our officers have shown unwavering determination. Their well-coordinated efforts, based on actionable intelligence, have led to the disruption of numerous criminal syndicates.”
Egbetokun further emphasized the police’s commitment to modernizing their approaches to crime-fighting. An ad hoc committee has been established to review the country’s firearm licensing and regulations in the interest of public safety. This committee will aim to enhance the effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of current firearms procedures.Â
Addressing the issue of illegal firearms, Egbetokun warned against wrongful possession and urged citizens to deposit such arms at nearby police stations without fear of repercussions. He stressed the need for a nationwide clampdown on illegal firearm activities.
The Inspector-General also highlighted the establishment of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS), a 40,000-strong force, with 25 trainers set to undergo specialized training overseas. He commended the newly automated Central Motor Registry’s effectiveness, which has greatly improved the police’s response to stolen vehicle reports.
Egbetokun concluded by urging the public to utilize the Central Motor Registry’s online platform for vehicle registration to enhance security and safety.
SOURCE: PUNCHÂ
