NPF Rolls Out One Year Crime Achievements Of IGP Egbetokun
By Emmanuel Uffot
As the Federal Government is basking in the euphoria of the first-year anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the Nigeria Police Force has join in outlining the efforts of the Force under the current Inspector General Egbetokun in ensuring that crimes and criminality is reduced to its barest and this has led to salient and significant progress in the fight against all forms of crimes in the country as the Police has intensified its operations and made remarkable strides in ensuring the safety and security of all Nigerians.
According to a release by the Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumiyiwa Adejobi, in the past one year, the Police has successfully apprehended 4,826 armed robbery suspects, 3,078 kidnapping suspects, 2,479 suspects for rape/sexual crimes, 1,243 suspects for unlawful possession of firearms, 3,523 suspects for cultism, 3,381 suspects for murder/homicide, 13,402 suspects for other offenses.
Our operations has also led to the rescue of 1,750 kidnap victims, the recovery of a significant cache of illegal items, including 2,566 firearms, 19,510 rounds of ammunition, and 1,475 vehicles/motorcycles nationwide.
Similarly, the NPF has successfully prosecuted 29,152 criminal cases across the country within the year. Out of these, 17,679 cases have been conclusively dispensed with, while 11,576 cases are still undergoing trial. Additionally, 51 cases are currently under appeal at the respective appellate courts.
Impressively, 16,200 of the dispensed cases have led to the conviction of suspects, who have received various forms of punishment for their criminal acts.
In line with these fight against crime, he noted that the Police recently paraded 19 suspects involved in various illicit activities. Among these according to him was a case of kidnapping involving one Muhammad Abubakar aged 24 and Shehu Muhammad aged 35 both from Zamfara State. The duo were reportedly apprehended in possession of an AK-47 rifle and some magazines, through a coordinated effort between FID-IRT operatives and local vigilantes in Asawa village, Kogi State. These suspects Adejobi stated, have been responsible for a series of robberies in Benin and multiple kidnappings in Okene, Kogi State. According to him, they confessed receiving a total of 3.3 million Naira in ransom from four operations.
“Also, a gang comprising Ibrahim Shehu aged 30, Ibrahim Ardo aged 32, Ibrahim Amodu aged 50, Ibrahim Mohammed aged 50, and Ayo Johnson aged 30 were arrested for their role in supplying arms and ammunition to armed militias and bandits operating within the North Central region. 1 AK-47 rifle, 3 AK-49 rifles, 80 rounds of live ammunition, and 57 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition were recovered from the suspects”.
The Force Public Relations Officer also stated that concerted efforts also led to the arrest of some gun runners comprising Clement Joshua aged 52, Raymond Emanya aged 65, and Ishaya Ajiji Musa aged 40 who were arrested based on intelligence and interception from the Technical Intelligence Unit and the FID-IRT operatives in Plateau State. The suspects confessed to supplying arms and ammunition to criminal elements in several states. “Exhibits recovered include a bulletproof jacket, pump action with breech number 22P-0397, binoculars, 32 red cartridges, 50 white RIO cartridges, hunter’s t-shirts, cutlass, and more”.
He said the Inspector General of Police has reiterated the steadfastness of the NPF to ensuring a safer and more secure country while appreciating the continued support of the public which have been instrumental to achieving these feats. He urged all citizens and residents in the country to report all suspicious activities to the nearest police station for proper investigation leaving nothing to chance.
It could be recalled that President Tinubu appointed the IGP on assumption of office as one of his appointments of security chiefs.
