1,154 suspected kidnappers have been arrested across the country between January and August in 2019 as confirmed by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
While speaking at the Southwest Geopolitical Zone Security Summit held in Ibadan, Adamu revealed that 147 of the arrests were made in the Southwest and a total of 837 victims of kidnapping were rescued with 106 of such rescues achieved in the Southwest.
He further said: ”Between January and August, a total of 552 murder suspects were arrested with 66 such arrests effected in the Southwest. 2,015 armed robbery suspects were arrested with 363 of the figure arrested in the zone.
”1,183 suspected cultists were napped, out of which 425 were arrested in the zone. In relation to recovery, 1,356 firearms of various calibre and descriptions were recovered in various intelligence-led operations by the Police, with 277 of such recoveries made in the Southwest.
”Similarly, 21,300 ammunition of various descriptions and calibre were recovered with the highest number of 5,270 ammunition recovered from criminal syndicates in the zone. Also, 1,541 stolen vehicles were recovered across the country, with 482 of such recoveries in Southwest,” he stated.
The IGP said the statistics pointed out that the Police in recent months have developed capacity and demonstrated the requisite professional zeal.
Adamu further disclosed that 40,000 Community Police Officers (CPOs) would be recruited in order to give full effect to Community Policing Vision as a pathway towards bridging security gaps across the country. He said the CPOs would be recruited from within the communities where the prospective applicants reside.
