In a sweeping law enforcement operation spanning five weeks, the Nigeria Police Force has achieved significant milestones, apprehending a number of suspects involved in various criminal activities.
The operation, led by the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has resulted in a substantial number of arrests, the recovery of stolen vehicles, and the launch of a comprehensive firearms licensing review.
During this operation, the Nigeria Police Force made a total of 288 arrests related to armed robbery, 187 related to kidnapping, 198 related to homicide, 59 for the possession of prohibited firearms, 168 for cases involving rape, defilement, and other sexual offenses, 265 for suspected cult-related activities, and 1,891 individuals for various other crimes.
Additionally, law enforcement agencies successfully recovered 127 firearms of varying calibers, seized 612 assorted ammunition, and retrieved 89 stolen vehicles.
Remarkably, the police safely rescued 71 kidnapped victims, reuniting them with their families.
In response to the issue of firearms management, the Nigeria Police Force has established an ad hoc committee tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of firearms licensing and regulations in alignment with existing laws, particularly the Firearms Act.
The committee’s primary goal is to enhance the effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of firearms licensing procedures and regulations.
This effort will be conducted collaboratively with relevant stakeholders to ensure a well-informed and holistic review.
Individuals in possession of firearms illegally are strongly encouraged to voluntarily surrender such weapons to the nearest police stations without the risk of sanctions.
Law enforcement authorities have mandated all State Commissioners of Police, supervising Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in charge of Zonal Commands, and Tactical Commanders to initiate an immediate clampdown on the illegal fabrication, sales, possession, and use of prohibited firearms nationwide.
The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of Inspector-General Olukayode Egbetokun, remains committed to adopting modern policing strategies and embracing a comprehensive approach to address various dimensions of crimes and criminality in the country.
This commitment is evidenced by the establishment of a 40,000-strong Special Intervention Squad (SIS), with 25 trainers and instructors selected from various police colleges and training schools for specialized training abroad.
The Central Motor Registry (CMR), which was recently automated and launched, has significantly improved the police’s ability to respond to stolen vehicle incidents.
Citizens are encouraged to register their vehicles online through the CMR platform (cmris.npf.gov.ng) to enhance the chances of recovering stolen vehicles.
To date, the CMR platform has registered 1,244 vehicles, with 234 found to have been reported as stolen. The swift response of CMR desk officers, in collaboration with field operatives, has led to the recovery of 46 stolen vehicles.