Crime

Police Smash Kidnap Ring, Arrest Notorious Bandits

By Web News 578

The Nigeria Police Force has scored a major operational breakthrough with the arrest of two notorious bandits and kidnapping kingpins linked to violent crimes across Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and Kwara States.

Operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID–IRT), working in collaboration with the Kwara State Police Command, arrested the suspects on Friday, December 19, 2025, during a covert operation along the Komen–Masallaci axis in Kaiama Local Government Area.

Police identified the suspects as Abubakar Usman, alias Siddi, aged 26, and Shehu Mohammadu, alias Gide, aged 30.

Operatives apprehended both men at Komen–Masallaci village during the operation.

Items recovered from the suspects included a brand-new red Honda Ace 125 motorcycle, valued at ₦1.85 million and allegedly bought with ransom proceeds; ₦500,000 cash believed to be unspent ransom money; and one AK-47 rifle with a magazine loaded with 20 rounds of live ammunition.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects belong to a notorious banditry and kidnapping syndicate terrorising communities across the North-West and North-Central regions.

Police further disclosed that the gang supplies arms and ammunition to other criminal elements.

The suspects are currently cooperating with investigators to help track down other members of the syndicate and recover more weapons.

Police also confirmed that Abubakar Usman was recently identified in a viral social media video where firearms and large sums of money were openly displayed.

Commending the operatives for their professionalism, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, reaffirmed the Force’s resolve to dismantle criminal networks, curb banditry and kidnapping, and guarantee public safety nationwide.

The Police urged citizens to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to strengthen ongoing operations.

Vanguard/Maxwell Oyekunle

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Security

Oyo Police Holds 3-Day Training for DPOs, Tactical Commanders

By Web News 232

By Abisola Oluremi

In a bid to strengthen the effectiveness of police personnel in combating crime and enhancing their individual capacity, the Nigeria Police Force, Oyo State Command has organized a three-day training for its senior officers.

The training designed for Divisional Police Officers, DPOs, and other tactical commanders was held at the Command headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.

Welcoming the participants, the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Joseph Adenola said the training was in compliance with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to strengthen the Nation security system.

Mr Adenola reiterated that the training would go a long way to improving their skills in the use of modern technology, community policing and judicious use of firearms.

“I had been under the training of the facilitator, which had helped me greatly in my career, hence the need to bring him here to teach others that have not had the same opportunity”, the commissioner explained.

Mr Adenola noted that the trainees were expected to pass the knowledge gained across to their subordinates to have a more efficient and combatant policing in the state.

The lead facilitator, who is a retired Inspector General of Police, Mr Olafimihan Adeoye said the training was designed to make the officers more accommodating to their community as well as improve their personal skills.

“We are going to look at the role of community policing in tackling crime, and many more topics”, Mr Adeoye said.

The one hundred and eighty Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Commanders would be trained with the theme: “Building Capacity for Effective Superintending”.

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Security

NPF Approves Special Intervention Squad Nationwide

By Web News 735

By Rasheedah Makinde

The Nigeria Police Force, NPF, has approved the creation of a special intervention squad in all the states of the Federation to further enhance the fight against insecurity bedevilling the nation. 

The Acting Inspector General of Police,  Mr Kayode Egbetokun made this known during a security stakeholders meeting held at Police Headquarters, Eleyele Ibadan, Oyo State.

Mr Egbetokun said the newly created Special Intervention Squad would consist officers from the pool of existing Police Mobile Force Personnel and other tactical units.

According to the IGP, the squad would undergo intensive training to make them combat ready for Frontline operational duties in all states of the Federation. 

He said the squad would be deployed to areas plagued by unrest and turmoil in the country. 

The Police boss, therefore, called on community and religious leaders to give their full support to the police to achieve the desired results.

Mr Egbetokun re-emphasised the importance of community policing engagements for swift intervention of security personnel and the people of the communities. 

The Acting Inspector General of Police stated further that the Force had re-strategised by embarking on modern policing which is community based and it would include technology driven and intelligence led policing. 

“We are going to adopt community policing by taking cognizance of certain peculiarities to each community”.

“For example there is Amotekun being run by state government, they are helping us to combat crime, they work with the Police and the overall intention was to reduce crime in the society and make sure that all citizens could sleep with their two eyes closed”.

Mr Egbetokun therefore called on all community stakeholders to always leave in harmony to achieve and maintain a peaceful atmosphere. 

He added that people, especially the youths should desist from engaging the social media in solving police public issues in order not to aggravate things, but visit police stations for verification. 

On his part, the national chairman of Police community relations committee, PCRC, Mr Ibrahim Olaniyan said the committee had continued to enlighten the public on the importance of people/police relations to collectively wage war against insecurity. 

Speaking on behalf of the people of Ibadan, President General Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Mr Niyi Ajewole said Oyo state, being one of the border states, needed more area commands to secure and prevent the influx of strangers that might pose as threat to the development of the society. 

The security stakeholders meeting was graced by religious and community leaders as well as various ethnic groups. 

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