The Nigeria Police Force says its operatives have arrested no fewer than 2,740 suspects for various crimes across the country in the past one month.
Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi said in a statement on Tuesday night that the arrests followed the commitment by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, who vowed to ensure that the perpetrators of heinous crimes in Nigeria were brought to book.
According to the statement, between August and September, operatives of the NPF arrested 295-armed robbery suspects, 186 kidnappers, 271 Murder/Homicide suspects, and 71 suspects for the unlawful possession of firearms.
Olumuyiwa also stated that 199 suspects were nabbed for sexual-related offences, 143 suspects for cultism, and 1575 suspects arrested for other crimes.
He said the Force also recovered 185 firearms, 4087 ammunition of various calibres and 111 vehicles, stating that about 129 kidnapped victims were also rescued.
The statement added that in more recent events, the operatives also dismantled and arrested a gunrunning syndicate operating in the Bauchi-Plateau region.
“The suspects, identified as Taimako Mato, John Danladi, Mohammed Munkail, Manasseh William, and Muhammadu Haddi were arrested with 1 PKT Machine Gun, 40 rounds of 37.2mm and 95rounds of 62mm cartridge ammunition.
“The Leader of the syndicate, Taimako Mato, was a weapon handling instructor at a Boko Haram Camp, who procures these prohibited weapons and passes them on to the other members of the syndicate to sell to various buyers”, Olumuyiwa said.