Police Arrest 50 Suspects, Recover Anti-Aircraft Launcher and High-Grade Weapons in Nationwide Operation

The Nigeria Police Force has announced the arrest of 50 suspects linked to terrorism, kidnapping, and armed robbery across multiple states in a nationwide security operation.

The operation, carried out by the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), was disclosed during a briefing in Abuja on April 13, 2026.

Police authorities said the crackdown led to the recovery of a significant cache of weapons, including an anti-aircraft launcher, 17 rifles, ammunition, magazines, and communication devices allegedly used by criminal groups.

According to the report, the arrests span various criminal networks involved in terrorism, cattle rustling, armed robbery, and violent attacks on communities and security personnel across the country.

One of the highlighted operations involved the dismantling of a 33-member gang accused of terrorism-related activities and attacks on religious sites in Kwara State.

In another case, suspects linked to the killing of police officers in Taraba State were also apprehended.

Additional arrests were recorded in the Federal Capital Territory and surrounding areas, targeting groups involved in “one-chance” robberies, car break-ins, and impersonation of security personnel.

In Benue State, operatives reportedly recovered an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, and arrested a suspect believed to be connected to a wider arms trafficking network.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to tackling organised crime, noting that several suspects will be prosecuted while operations continue to track down fleeing accomplices.

The police said the ongoing nationwide crackdown will combine intelligence gathering and technology-driven surveillance to disrupt criminal networks and improve national security.