The Nigeria Police Force has recorded significant successes in its efforts to combat crime across the nation, with the foiling of multiple bandit attacks and the rescue of 207 abducted children. The Force’s commitment to adopting a more proactive approach in its efforts to combat crime has yielded impressive results, with intelligence-led policing being a key factor in these successes.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed that on January 18, 2025, Police operatives attached to the Kogi State Command got information of a group of armed bandits holding a strategic meeting for a possible attack at a forest in Budon, Kogi State. Adejobi stated that operatives were mobilized and deployed to the scene, where they engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel, neutralizing one bandit and arresting four others.

Adejobi also revealed that the operatives recovered one AK-47 rifle, two magazines, 30 rounds of live ammunition, and two motorcycles. Similarly, on the same day, a distress call was received at the Dutsinma Divisional Police Headquarters, Katsina State, that some suspected armed bandits were headed to attack Ruwan Doruwa Village, Dutsinma LGA of the State.

Adejobi stated that Police operatives, in collaboration with other security agencies, mobilized and intercepted the armed bandits, engaging them in a fierce gun battle that resulted in the neutralization of seven bandits, with the rest of the gang fleeing and abandoning 109 livestock suspected to be rustled animals.

In another significant development, Adejobi disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force has escalated its initiatives to combat human trafficking and the operation of illegal baby factories, successfully rescuing more than 207 abducted children from suspected traffickers nationwide. A significant breakthrough was achieved with the arrest of a syndicate involved in child abduction and trafficking by the Ondo State Police Command.

Adejobi stated that the operatives apprehended members of the syndicate, identified as Abosede Olanipekun, Lukman Isiaka, and Sabira Izuorah, and rescued 14 children between the ages of one week and seven years old. The success of these operations is a significant blow against those who serve as threats to the nation’s security, contributing to the overall efforts of the Force to enhance public safety.

The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its dedication to duty and commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of all citizens. Adejobi reaffirmed the Force’s role as the protector of peace and security of the society, stating that the Force will continue to take a firm stance against criminal activities and ensure that offenders are brought to justice.