Nigeria Police rescue 12 kidnapped persons, recover firearms in nationwide operations
Nigeria Police Force rescued 12 kidnapped persons—three of five abducted in Taraba State and nine travelers in Ogun State—during operations from September 29 to October 2, 2026. Force Public Relations Officer CSP Ani Iniedu confirmed recoveries including two rocket launchers, two empty AK-47 magazines, locally manufactured firearms, and multiple arrests across states.
In Sokoto State, security personnel prevented a bandit attack on Tsabre Village on October 2, recovering arms and finding no casualties among security teams or residents. Operations also repelled bandits on Katsina's Funtua-Zaria Road (October 1), responded to an ambush on Benue's Amaafu-Abaji Road (one suspect killed, locally made firearm recovered), and arrested armed robbery suspects in Ibadan's Sabo area (recovering an iPhone 7 Plus linked to a victim).
Additional actions included drug-related arrests in Akwa Ibom, cult member arrests and seizures in Ogun State's Agbado, threat-to-life investigations in Cross River, unlawful detention interventions freeing two victims, and arrests in Ebonyi, Enugu (over a teen's killing), and Ekiti (microfinance bank employee death). Police worked with soldiers to restore calm in Sokoto's Goronyo LGA communal dispute. Investigations continue at State Criminal Investigation Departments.
The rescued victims were reunited with families after debriefing, with no police or civilian casualties reported in the Sokoto prevention operation. Recovered arms and ongoing actions highlight persistent security challenges in specific corridors while demonstrating active police response to protect communities and travelers.