Police rescue victim of kidnapping, recovers guns

The Nigeria Police Force says its men recorded another significant breakthroughs in its ongoing fight against violent crimes.

A statement  by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi on Sunday added that coordinated efforts lead to the rescue of a victim, arrest of suspected kidnappers, and the recovery of sophisticated firearms, ammunition, and millions of naira in cash in Akwa Ibom and Nasarawa states.

He explained that In Akwa Ibom State, on 16th August 2025, police operatives attached to Eket Division, in synergy with operatives from Ikot Udota Division and youths of Afia Nsit, responded to a distress call of a suspected kidnapping attempt at Factory Road, Afia Nsit, Eket.

The FPRO states further the prompt response led to the rescue of one Emerson and the arrest of two suspects, namely Okon Edem Okon and Emmanuel Bassey.

“Further search conducted in an uncompleted building in a nearby bush led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, one assault rifle, 67 rounds of ammunition, one pump-action shotgun with six live cartridges, six magazines, and a mobile phone, which are all suspected to belong to the hoodlums.

“Efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend other fleeing gang members.”

Similarly, in Nasarawa State, the police said on 18th August 2025, operatives of Garaku Police Division responded to a lone motor crash involving an Opel Vectra vehicle near the VIO checkpoint at Angwan Mayo community and the Two occupants fled the scene of crime immediately abandoning the vehicle.

“A search conducted on the vehicle led to the recovery of G3 rifle, which was handed over to the police. Upon further search of the vehicle at the police station, police operatives recovered one AK-47 rifle, one Type 06 rifle, one G3 rifle, three magazines, 57 rounds of live ammunition, and a total sum of N6,908,150.

“Following an intensive manhunt conducted in collaboration with the military, one of the fleeing suspects, Mohammed Tahir of Barkin Ladi of Plateau State, was arrested. He confessed to being part of a seven-man kidnap gang responsible for the kidnapping of a lawyer in Nyanya, Abuja, from whom ransom had been collected.

“Efforts are underway to ensure that other fleeing members of the kidnapping gangs are apprehended, and upon conclusion of investigation, all arrested suspected would be charged to court accordingly,” Adejobi added.

According  to Adejobi, these consecutive successes reinforce the renewed commitment of the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to clamp down on criminal elements threatening public safety and security across the country.