Police nab 22 suspects, recover vehicles, others in nationwide crackdown on criminals

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

The Nigeria Police Force has listed arrest of 22 suspects linked to serious criminal activities, recovery of six firearms and recovery of stolen vehicles, motorcycles among the achievements of operatives of its Special Tactical Squad (STS)

The spokesperson of Nigeria Police Force, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin who announced this in a statement on Thursday said the STS operatives achieved the feat following following a series of intelligence-led operations across several states in Nigeria.

According to him, the suspects were apprehended for offences including armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry, cattle rustling, car snatching, economic sabotage, impersonation and drug trafficking.

He listed the weapons recovered to include one LAR rifle, one pump-action gun, one AK-49 rifle, one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle, as well as two live rounds of ammunition.

Giving breakdown of the operations, Hundeyin said the STS operatives intercepted a J5 vehicle conveying 13 brand-new motorcycles, alongside weapons and other incriminating items in a major operation along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway. He added that further investigations into the matter led to the arrest of a 35-year-old suspect, Luke Ifeanyi, in connection with armed robbery and economic sabotage.

He added that in a related operations within the Federal Capital Territory, the STS operatives arrested a Kuje Custodial Centre escapee, Ayo Abiodun, who is suspected to have violently robbed a serving Nigerian Army officer.

The Police spokesperson added that the STS operatives also arrested a 40-year-old suspect, Yusuf Shehu with a stolen tricycle.

“Investigation revealed that Shehu was impersonating a police officer, and recovered in his possession are a pair of police mobile uniform and a police identity card,” Hundeyin said.

The STS operatives also intercepted a vehicle conveying large quantities of leaves suspected to be cannabis and other controlled substances.

The Force spokesperson further revealed that the STS operatives arrested four suspects for unlawful possession of prohibited firearms and for alleged violent attacks on a community in Edo State while they arrested two suspects linked linked to a car-snatching syndicate in Lagos and Ogun States.

Hundeyin further revealed that that 12 suspects, namely Mohammed Isa, John Baba, Musa Iliyasu, Rabiu Hussaini, Mohammed Abdullahi, Adamu Hassan, Usman Mohammed, Umar Musa, Muhammadu Ahmad, Inusa Adamu, Shuaibu Mohammed, and Sulaiman Dabo, connected to banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling were arrested by the STS operatives in Nasarawa and other neighbouring States.

The operatives also recovered several firearms during the operations.

“Investigations into all the cases are ongoing, and the suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations, in line with extant laws,” Hundeyin said

He also quoted the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun as commending the operatives of the Special Tactical Squad for their courage and professionalism.

According to him, Egbetokun emphasised that these successes reflect the Force’s dedication to protecting lives, disrupting criminal networks, and ensuring public safety. He urged the public to provide credible information to support the police in the fight against crime and criminality across Nigeria.