Nigeria Police Report Nationwide Sweep: Bandit Killed, Seven Rescued, Multiple Suspects Arrested Across 10 States

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 23 suspects in separate operations across 10 states, including suspected bandits, terrorist group members, kidnappers, murder suspects and cultists, while also rescuing seven victims and recovering firearms and a stolen motorcycle. Force Public Relations Officer CSP Ani Iniedu disclosed this in a state-by-state executive summary of operational successes for September 23, 2026.

In Benue State, police and joint tactical forces responded to an armed bandit attack at Abeda Market, Logo LGA, on September 22, neutralising one suspected bandit and arresting two others. In Katsina State, operatives foiled a bandit attack along the Kankara-Dutsin-Ma Road, rescuing seven vehicle occupants, including six female students of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma, after engaging the attackers, who fled into the bush with gunshot injuries; police separately arrested three suspected members of a bandit syndicate in the state.

In Anambra State, four suspects arrested in Okija reportedly confessed to membership of an outlawed terrorist group and gave information on its activities, while three others were arrested over the death of a 34-year-old man in Ojoto. Other operations included the arrest of a suspected kidnapper in Nasarawa following a citizens’ arrest, the re-arrest of an armed suspect in Delta State, a murder suspect tracked down in Cross River, a suspect linked to a death in Oyo State, a defilement suspect in Ogun State, four suspected cultists arrested in Ekiti over an attack in Ikere-Ekiti, and a stolen motorcycle recovered in Kogi State. In Lagos, police responded to a fatal road accident at Tin Can Island on September 21, arresting the truck driver involved and impounding the vehicle.

The Force said all cases remain under investigation by the respective State Criminal Investigation Departments and other designated units.