Police Arrest 32,000 Crime Suspects in One Year

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

As the nation marks the first-year anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the Nigeria Police Force said it arrested 32,000 crime suspects in one year. It said police operatives apprehended 4,826 armed robbery suspects, 3,078 kidnap suspects, 2,479 suspects for rape/sexual crimes, 1,243 suspects for unlawful possession of firearms, 3,523 suspects for cultism, 3,381 suspects for murder/homicide, 13,402 suspects for other offenses. It said police operations also led to the rescue of 1,750 kidnap victims, the recovery of a significant cache of illegal items, including 2,566 firearms, 19,510 rounds of ammunition, and 1,475 vehicles/motorcycles nationwide.

Similarly, the police prosecuted 29,152 criminal cases across the country within the year.

Parading 19 crime suspects in Abuja, Force Public Relations and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said said the police dispensed with 17,000 cases in the past one year.

“Out of these, 17,679 cases have been conclusively dispensed with, while 11,576 cases are still undergoing trial. Additionally, 51 cases are currently under appeal at the respective appellate courts. “Impressively, 16,200 of the dispensed cases have led to the conviction of suspects, who have received various forms of punishment for their criminal acts”, he said.

Olumuyiwa said “Police has spared no effort in ensuring that crimes and criminality is reduced to its barest and this has led to salient and significant progress in the fight against all forms of crimes in the country as the Police has intensified its operations and made remarkable strides in ensuring the safety and security of all Nigerians”.

The police also paraded 19 suspects involved in various illicit activities. Among these is a case of kidnapping involving one Muhammad Abubakar aged 24 and Shehu Muhammad aged 35 both from Zamfara State.

“The duo were apprehended in possession of an AK-47 rifle and some magazines, through a coordinated effort between FID-IRT operatives and local vigilantes in Asawa village, Kogi State.

“These suspects have been responsible for a series of robberies in Benin and multiple kidnappings in Okene, Kogi State. They received a total of N3.3 in ransom from four operations”, he said.