The Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, has said operatives deployed on the recently launched Operation Puff Adder have arrested 920 suspects for kidnapping, armed robbery, murder and cultism in the last four weeks.
Speaking at the monthly conference of senior Police officers, Commissioner of Police (CPs) and above, Monday at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, the police boss said 424 of the suspects were arrested between May 10, to June 14, 2019.
He said 44 suspects were arrested for murder, 276 were for armed robbery while 176 were arrested for cultism, just as Kaduna state recorded the highest number of kidnap suspects with 101 arrested followed by Katsina state with 79.
The Police boss stated that 77 vehicles allegedly stolen by the suspects were also recovered across the country by operatives attached to Operation Puff Adder.
“Sequel to the launch of Operation Puff Adder in all the states of the federation and other security strategies recently emplaced to address internal security threats, a total number of 424 kidnappers were arrested between May 10, to June 14, 2019.
“The highest number of 101 kidnap suspects were arrested in Kaduna state, followed by Katsina state with 79 arrests. 54 suspects were apprehended in Nasarawa state and 32 in Taraba state.
“In the same vein, a total of 44 murder suspects were arrested during the period under review, with the highest number of seven in FCT and six in Kano state.”
Similarly, “176 suspected cultists were arrested across the country while 77 stolen vehicles were recovered by Operation Puff Adder operatives nationwide between May 10 to June 14, 2019; with the highest number of 29 in FCT.
“276 armed robbery suspects were arrested within the same period with the highest number of 38 in Edo state, followed by 25 in Nasarawa state and 23 in FCT.”
Speaking further the police boss said: “A total of 10,860 ammunition of various descriptions and calibre were recovered while a total of 301 firearms including a rocket launcher, AK47 assault rifles, pistols and locally made gun, were similarly recovered from criminal elements across the country, with the highest number of 80 in Katsina state, followed by Edo state with 26 and Kaduna state with 25.”
The IG stated that the successes were recorded were, “consequent upon the enhancement of the institutional capacity of the Nigeria Police to respond to internal security threats and undertake intelligence-led operations.”
