Police Record Major Wins in Crackdown on Cultism, Kidnapping, Gunrunning, and Car Theft Across Four States....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Nigeria Police Force has made significant progress in its ongoing crackdown on cultism, arms trafficking, kidnapping, and vehicle theft through a series of coordinated, intelligence-led operations in Delta, Edo, Katsina, and Adamawa states.

In a statement issued on Monday, July 7, by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police announced the successful rescue of two kidnap victims, Godday Irieude and Wisdom Emeka, in Edo State. The duo had been abducted from their farm in Ewatto around 1:00 a.m. on June 26, 2025.

According to the statement, police operatives, in collaboration with local vigilantes, traced the kidnappers to their hideout, where a fierce gun battle ensued. “The kidnappers opened fire on our men, but the superior firepower of the operatives forced them to flee with gunshot wounds,” the police noted. Both victims were rescued unharmed.

In Delta State, two suspected cultists, Koko Josh (29) and Asomugha Clinton (27), were arrested during a raid in Mosogar. Items recovered included a locally fabricated Baretta pistol with two live rounds, two locally made guns, eight cartridges, mobile phones, a laptop, and fetish materials.

Further investigations led to the arrest of two other suspects, Anthony Kelvin (26) and Gift Amotsuka (25), confirmed members of the Aiye Confraternity.

In another sting operation in Okpanam, Delta State, officers arrested Ekene Chroma (36) and Okafor Jonathan (18) with two English-made single-barrel guns and 110 rounds of live ammunition. Preliminary investigations revealed they were involved in gunrunning and supplied weapons to criminals.

Meanwhile, in Katsina State, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) arrested a suspected car thief, Yunusa Ishaku (40), in Funtua. He was caught with two stolen vehicles — a Toyota Hiace and a Toyota Camry.

Under interrogation, Ishaku confessed to being part of a transnational syndicate that steals vehicles from Abuja and Jos and smuggles them to Niger Republic. His confession led to the recovery of three additional stolen vehicles — a Honda Accord, Toyota Carina II, and another Toyota Camry — in Zamfara and Bauchi States. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the ring.

In another breakthrough in Adamawa State, the FID-IRT team arrested a suspected arms dealer, Alhaji Iya Bima (52), in Kem Shithem Local Government Area. Recovered from him were one AK-47 rifle, two magazines, and fifty rounds of live 7.62x39mm ammunition. Subsequent interrogation led to the discovery of another AK-47, three additional magazines, and 50 more rounds of ammunition.

Reacting to the developments, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, lauded the success of the operations, reiterating the police’s resolve to dismantle criminal networks nationwide through intelligence-driven strategies.

“Our officers will not relent in disrupting criminal syndicates and restoring peace in our communities,” Egbetokun said. “We urge citizens to remain alert and support the Force by reporting suspicious activities to the nearest station or through emergency hotlines.”

The statement confirmed that all arrested suspects will face prosecution upon conclusion of investigations.