Nigeria Police neutralize seven bandits and arrest 29 suspects

The Nigeria Police Force has reported significant operational successes in its crackdown on banditry and kidnapping across 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Between August 14 and 16, 2026, police neutralized seven suspected bandits and arrested 29 other suspects.

In Sokoto State, tactical teams foiled an attempted attack on Dankadu Village in the Illela Local Government Area. During a gun duel, two suspected bandits were neutralized, and security forces recovered two AK-47 rifles, two magazines, and 54 rounds of live ammunition. No casualties were reported among security personnel or villagers.

Other major operations occurred in Imo State, where police located a kidnappers’ hideout in a forest, resulting in the rescue of two abducted persons and the neutralization of two suspects. In Benue and Delta states, as well as Enugu and Imo, police recovered various weapons, including AK-47 rifles, motorcycles, and contraband, as part of an intensified campaign against violent crime.