The Imo State Police Command, in synergy with other security agencies, has deployed watertight security to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
The Command said it has uncovered following intelligence report, plans by certain groups to stage protests demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial for treasonable felony.
The public relations officer, Henry Okoye, said a joint security show-of-force operation is ongoing across the state, involving the police, military, DSS, NSCDC, FRSC, and other sister agencies to reassure citizens of their safety.
He said: “The exercise is aimed at boosting public confidence, reassuring residents of their safety, and warning individuals or groups against any action that may disrupt the existing peace in the State.”
He noted that while the Command respects citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly, any act capable of disrupting public order or endangering safety will be met with firm and lawful resistance.
He warned all criminal elements and mischief-makers to desist from actions that could threaten the peace of the state.
Many residents chose to stay indoors to observe the ongoing protest, opting to avoid the streets for fear of unrest.
As a result, offices, schools, and business establishments were shut down, contributing to an unusually quiet atmosphere throughout the city.
The usual hustle and bustle of daily life was noticeably absent, with only a few individuals venturing outside.
Those who appeared on the roads were mainly passengers patiently waiting to board few buses, hoping to reach their destinations despite the disruptions.
The streets, normally crowded and vibrant, appeared almost deserted, reflecting the widespread impact of the protest on everyday activities.
The Police on Monday fired teargas near the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja to break up a gathering of demonstrators demanding the release of detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
A large contingent of police and military personnel had earlier surrounded the area, blocking access to nearby streets.
Detectives from the Ondo State Police Command have apprehended a notorious cultist, Abdul Boluwatife, for allegedly terrorising residents of Akungba-Akoko and neighbouring communities in Akoko South-West Local Government Area of the state.
The arrest was confirmed in a statement yesterday by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade.
According to Ayanlade, the suspect was arrested on October 15 during a cult initiation at A.U.D. Secondary School, Akungba-Akoko, following credible intelligence from vigilant residents of the community.
“Upon receiving information that a group of young men were holding a secret meeting and chanting cult-related slogans within the school premises, police operatives swiftly mobilised to the scene,” Ayanlade said.
He added that on sighting the police, the suspects fled, but Boluwatife was pursued and apprehended. During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to being a member and leader of a cult group operating within Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA).
A suspected daredevil interstate armed robbery syndicate with specialty in car hijack has been dismantled by operatives of the Lagos Police Command.
The suspects, Taiwo Alabi, 42; Ogedengbe Lowis, 46; Ighodalo Enato Francis, 37, and Osaro Eghe Abiodun, 34, were arrested across four States-Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Edo- by crack detectives who trailed their activities following an operation in Lagos.
The Nation gathered that one of the suspects was in a popular church in Benin City, and the other one, an Uber driver in Lagos whose wife had a baby barely two months ago.
The driver, who admitted to knowing his passengers were armed robbers, told detectives they carried the firearms in a suitcase and opened it when they were ready to strike.
He said the suspects paid him N500,000 for one night, alleging it was the only time he followed them.
The driver was apprehended in Lagos and he led detectives to Godwill Street, Idowu Egba in Isheri-Igando Road, where detectives recovered exhibits including a semi automatic Pump Action with breech no: 000565; An English pistol; 48 9mm ammunition, 46 live cartridges, one cutlass and criminal charms.
The police also recovered two Lexus ES350, a Toyota Sienna and one Corrolla vehicles from the gang.
Addressing journalists at the Igando residence of the gang, Lagos Commissioner of Police (CP) Olohundare Jimoh, said their arrest followed a car theft they carried out in Lagos last month.
He said two of the suspects entered a private car owned by a civil servant who decided to pick up passengers after work to augment his fuel money.
Unknown to the motorist, the two men he picked up around Lekki/Ajah were armed robbers who attacked him once they got to an isolated area.
“They robbed the motorist of his vehicle and immediately the matter was reported, I directed that the complainant should be contacted for more details so we can get to the root of the matter.
“When the complaint gave details of what happened, tactical teams were deployed to fish them out and this investigation took detectives to three other states where these suspects have been operating.
“So, we are sending this for members of the public to be assured that the Nigeria Police Force has the capacity to protect every Nigerian throughout the length and breadth of this country.
“This is what we have exemplified in the successes recorded by the Lagos State Police Command.
“The tactical commander that you see with me here is making a lot of successes in terms of violent crime prevention, and apprehension of those who engage in the act.
“I want to use this opportunity to admonish Lagosians to stop using their private vehicles to pick up passengers. It is a dangerous thing to do because you do not know who the person you want to carry for a fee is.
“It is better to park your vehicle when you do not have fuel money than to use it to pick up people you don’t know on the road. That’s the modus operandi this gang deployed in Lagos but they were caught.
“Let me also appeal to residents to always provide information to the police. You can see where this house is located. It is not hidden nor isolated. It is sandwiched among buildings and even in the compound, there are other tenants. So, our people need to help us secure them better by providing information about suspicious persons or activities so that the police can investigate..
One of the vehicles recovered by the police was snatched from the owner between the Lagos-Ogun border. The victim who couldn’t contain his joy, thanked the police for recovering his vehicle.
He explained that he was attacked on September 7, while driving towards Alagbado.
“It was around past 9pm and I stopped to get something. Less than 30 seconds after I stopped, someone banged my door and said I should wind down. So, I asked why? And the next thing I saw he had a pump gun.
“Out of fear, I opened the door and there was another guy on the other side who had a pistol.
“They both jumped into my car, collected my three phones, jewelry and other items in the car. Then they told me they were going with my car, that I should come down and face the wall.
“When they told me to face the wall, I was afraid they wanted to shoot me and so I fled through the opposite direction. They left with the car, a Lexus and I reported to the police. I did not pay anything to the police. No money was requested from me. I am very thankful to the police especially the tactical squad for their intervention,” he said.
The Police Command in Lagos State has dismantled a car-snatching syndicate operating in Lagos and neighbouring states, recovering five stolen vehicles and several firearms in the process.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, while speaking to journalists at the residence of the syndicate in the Igando area, on Friday, said the command had achieved another breakthrough.
Jimoh said three members of the gang were apprehended in their residence used as their hideout, where they planned and launched attacks on unsuspecting motorists.
“The syndicate specialised in posing as passengers to dispossess drivers of their vehicles during transit.
“They usually board vehicles as passengers, and as the journey progresses, they rob the owners of their vehicles,” he said.
The police boss cautioned private car owners, especially civil servants and professionals, against carrying unknown passengers for a fee to offset fuel costs.
“It is very dangerous. If you cannot afford fuel, it is better to park your vehicle until you can. Many of these robbers take advantage of such opportunities,” he warned.
He noted that while one of the reported incidents occurred in the Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos, investigations revealed the gang had also operated in Oyo and Edo states.
“Our deep investigation into that single crime led to several recoveries. So far, we have recovered about five vehicles, two of which are here,” he said.
Jimoh said among the exhibits recovered from the suspects were a pump-action automatic weapon, an English-made pistol with erased serial numbers and live cartridges and charms believed to be used for protection during operations.
Jimoh, however, assured residents that the command remained resolute in its fight against crime.“We are on top of our game in terms of crime prevention, control, and prompt detection.
“Lagos is safe, and we will continue to ensure that every criminal act is promptly detected and perpetrators arrested,” he affirmed.
The commissioner also appealed to members of the public to be vigilant and report suspicious individuals in their communities.
“We want residents to be our first line of defence. If you notice people without a clear means of livelihood or those who move in and out at odd hours, report to us.
“Criminals are not spirits; they live among us,” he said.
He commended the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for providing logistics, tactical support, and operational vehicles that have enhanced policing in Lagos.
Some of the exhibits recovered in the syndicate’s residence
He also appreciated Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his continuous assistance and collaboration in ensuring security across the state.
Jimoh reiterated his warning to criminals to stay out of Lagos. “Lagos is not a place you can operate freely and go unarrested.
“Any criminal gang that raises its head here will be promptly apprehended and face the full weight of the law,” he said.
A motorist, who was also on the ground at the residence of the syndicate, recounted how the suspects dispossessed him of his vehicle, phones, and other valuables at gunpoint before the police recovered the stolen car.
The victim said the incident happened around 9:15 p.m. on Sept. 7, when he briefly parked to buy something.
According to him, a man suddenly approached, banged on his car window, and ordered him to unlock the vehicle while brandishing a pump-action gun.
He said another armed man joined in, and both forced him to surrender his phones, jewellery, and other valuables before fleeing with the car. The victim said he managed to escape unhurt after being ordered to face the wall.
He thanked the command, especially the Anti-Robbery and Anti-Kidnapping Squad, for promptly investigating the case, recovering his car, and apprehending one of the suspects in Edo.
Zamfara Police Command has confirmed the killing of its five officers in an encounter with armed bandits in Gidan Giye village of Tsafe Local government Area, Zamfara State.
A statement by the command public relations officer DSP Yazid Abubakar said the officers attached to the Operations Department of the Zamfara State Police Command, led by ASP John Dogara, were on routine patrol along Gusau–Funtua Federal Highway when the bandits laid ambush on them
“Before reaching Gidan Giye village in Tsafe Local Government Area, the patrol team was ambushed by a large number of armed bandits. However, the officers bravely engaged the assailants in a fierce gun duel,” DSP Yazid said.
DSP Yazid Abubakar also confirmed the killing of an unspecified number of armed bandits in the encounter while five of the command officers paid the supreme price.
“During the exchange, several of the bandits were neutralised while others fled the scene with suspected gunshot wounds.
“Tragically, five gallant police officers paid the supreme price in the line of duty,”the statement reads.
The police public relations officer further said normalcy has been restored to the area and further reinforcement has been deployed to maintain peace and ensure the safety of commuters along the highway.
In a major crackdown on criminal activities, operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested eight suspected cultists and armed robbers during a targeted operation in the Odogunyan area of Ikorodu.
The suspects were apprehended in an early morning raid carried out by the Command’s Bullock Tactical Team on Wednesday, at about 5:30 a.m., following credible intelligence reports about planned criminal activities in the area.
Those arrested include Fadiya Ayodele, 27, Lawal Rasheed, 28, Akerele Demilare, 27, Alimi Victor, 23, Okiki Alufoge, 25, Nurudeen Dolapo, 25, Agboola Samuel, 25, and Ayolade Victor, 25.
During the raid, police operatives recovered a Nigerian military camouflage uniform, a battle axe, an assault dagger, several charms, and counterfeit $100 bills amounting to $3,000.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has foiled a planned kidnapping and armed attack in Abuja, recovering an AK-47 rifle and ammunition during a coordinated operation at Byazhin Forest, Kubwa.
FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said in a statement on Tuesday that the operation was part of sustained efforts to ensure the safety and security of residents in the FCT.
According to Adeh, the operation followed credible intelligence received from the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU), Force Headquarters, which indicated an imminent attack within the territory.
“The intelligence revealed that a notorious bandit leader, identified as Idrisa, also known as ‘Mai Duna,’ had concluded plans to launch simultaneous attacks on selected village settlements around the Byazhin Forest area of the FCT,” Adeh stated.
Acting on the information, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Command deployed tactical teams around 9 p.m. on October 10, 2025, and mounted a strategic ambush along the identified routes of the suspected assailants.
“At about 1:00 a.m. on October 11, 2025, the police operatives sighted a large group of heavily armed men advancing toward the area in two groups,” she said.
“The team engaged the criminals in a fierce gun battle that lasted about twenty minutes. Despite strong resistance, the operatives overpowered the assailants, forcing them to retreat into the nearby forest with gunshot wounds.”
Following the encounter, reinforcement was deployed from nearby police and military formations, while additional police units secured the area and blocked potential escape routes.
A search of the scene led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle with a defaced serial number, one magazine, and thirty rounds of live 7.6mm ammunition.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, commended the operatives for their gallantry and professionalism, noting that their swift action prevented a major security breach.
He directed all medical facilities within the FCT and adjoining states to be on alert and to report any person found with gunshot wounds to the nearest police formation immediately.
The Commissioner also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information to the police through the following emergency numbers: 08032003913, 08028940883, and CRU: 08107314192.
The Delta State Police Command has revealed significant police operations leading to the successful rescue of a kidnap victim and the arrest of drug traffickers, showcasing the ongoing efforts of the command in maintaining public safety and combating crime in the state.
The police spokesman in the state, SP Bright Edafe, revealed in a statement on Tuesday that the rescue incident took place on October 12 at approximately 2 pm at Ovian Aladja involving the wife of a male complainant (name withheld).
He said the armed men had broken into the complainant’s apartment while they were sleeping, attacking, robbing, and subsequently kidnapping his wife.
Edafe said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Friday Ekundayo, received a distress call and promptly mobilised operatives to pursue the kidnappers.
The spokesman said the kidnappers were tracked to a forest near the Iyara community, and through persistent efforts, the kidnappers abandoned the victim, allowing for her safe rescue.
He said the victim was unharmed and reunited with her family, stressing that a manhunt for the escaping suspects is ongoing.
In a different operation, the police spokesman confirmed the arrest of drug barons and the recovery of a stolen vehicle and a large quantity of illicit drugs.
He said the operation took place on October 12, 2025, at approximately 0500 hours at Effurun, GRA.
He said two suspects —Igwe Samson (33 years old) and Abalum Sunday (39 years old) were apprehended.
Edafe said operatives from the Crack Squad of Delta State Command acted on credible intelligence regarding a suspected drug peddler, raided a hideout, and apprehended the suspects.
He said that upon searching their Sienna vehicle, operatives recovered 450 bottles of CSP codeine, 188 bottles of bargadine, 208 sachets of tramadol (100 mg), 300 sachets of swinol, 100 sachets of tramadol (500 mg), 50 sachets of rophynol, and bags of weed suspected to be cannabis.
Edafe noted that the suspects had reportedly been engaged in drug trafficking for approximately two years, acquiring drugs in Onitsha, Anambra State, and traveling at night to avoid detection.
He stated that the suspects were arrested and taken into custody, saying that investigations are ongoing to apprehend their suppliers and receivers.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, while commending the gallantry of the DPO and his men, also advised youths to desist from crime, drug abuse, which is also one of the main drivers of crime.
The CP also cautioned that drug abuse is detrimental to the health and well-being of abusers, hence it should be avoided.
The Police Command in Kaduna yesterday said it had foiled several banditry attacks, seized one GPMG rifle, fabricated guns and arrested 168 suspects.
Its Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, at a briefing, said it has employed several strategies while working tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of lives and property.
He listed the achievements recorded by the command to include arrest of 12 suspected armed robbers, five murder/culpable homicide suspects and 14 suspected illicit drug peddlers among others.
He said: ‘’These achievements would not have been possible without the support of the Katsina State Government and the good people of the state. We sincerely express our deepest appreciation for their support, collaboration and assistance in our crime-fighting efforts to maintain law and order in the state. We solicit for more support and cooperation from the members of the public to enable us to further improve on these successes. We urge the public to continue reporting suspicious activities and crimes to the nearest police station or use our emergency numbers.’’
