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30 clusters · 74 sources · 98 days · First seen · Last updated

Nigeria-wide security raids and arrests

Overview

The anti‑crime, anti‑terror and anti‑cult drive that began in June 2024 kept expanding through 2025‑2026. In May 2026, army units raided suspected terrorist logistics sites in Sokoto, criminal hideouts in Edo and cult‑linked premises in Delta, arresting 24 people and seizing pistols, machetes, a locally fabricated pistol and hard‑drugs. A June 5 NSCDC operation in Badagry rescued 24 victims from an illegal detention camp and detained four foreign suspects linked to cross‑border kidnapping and extortion. The army’s 14 Brigade arrested three arms dealers in Abia on 7 June, while police sweeps in Kano and Yobe on 8 June netted 345 suspects and about 270 weapons. On 10 June police seized Beretta pistols, axes and charms in Osun and detained 225 suspects in Katsina for kidnapping, banditry and arms trafficking, rescuing 17 kidnapping victims. Joint DSS‑army raids in Enugu on 11 June uncovered a rocket launcher, multiple RPGs and up to eleven AK‑47s from an Eastern Security Network cache. Subsequent operations in Enugu, Oyo and Borno on 12 June recovered further AK‑47s, a general‑purpose machine gun and killed an ISWAP leader. Throughout June and July, operations targeted cult members, arms networks, and kidnapping syndicates across various states.

In late July 2026, Kwara State Police arrested 16 suspects during a stop‑and‑search operation and apprehended six members of a kidnap syndicate linked to the murder of cattle owner Sulaiman Rilwan, whose body was recovered from a well. In early August, police in Oyo and Lagos seized firearms during raids, while Yobe police detained a man for livestock theft. Additionally, the Amotekun Corps rescued two abducted boys near the Ondo–Edo border. On 23 August, Ondo State Police arrested two suspects, Adamu Rabiu and Haruna Likita, in connection with an August 1 kidnapping in Owo.

Entities

Oyo State Police Command · Ondo State Police Command · Kwara State Police Command · Ondo State · Adetunji Adeleye

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. 29 days ago

    [CRIME] 27 sources
    West African law enforcement conducts major narcotics and human trafficking raids

    Police in Ghana and Nigeria have conducted major operations against narcotics, human trafficking, and kidnapping, while Interpol’s Operation Jackal IV led to 58 arrests across 22 countries targeting organized's

  2. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 5 sources
    Nigerian police arrest suspects and seize weapons in Oyo, Lagos and Yobe

    Police in Oyo, Lagos and Yobe arrested suspects, seized firearms and stolen cattle, while Amotekun rescued two abducted Fulani herders in Ondo.

  3. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 7 sources
    Kwara State Police arrest 22 suspects in kidnapping and murder case

    Kwara State Police in Nigeria arrested 22 suspects, including three minors, in a series of kidnappings and the murder of cattle owner Sulaiman Rilwan, whose body was found in an Offa well.

  4. 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 6 sources
    Akwa Ibom Police Arrest Four Suspects in Lynching of Two Young Men

    Akwa Ibom police arrested four suspects in two lynching cases involving Nsikak Joshua (26) and Emmanuel Effiong (21), exhumed their shallow graves, and pledged to prosecute the mob violence.

  5. 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Nigerian Police Arrest Suspects After Shootings and Armed Robbery in Osun and Ondo

    Police in Nigeria’s Osun State arrested a suspect linked to a shooting that injured three anti‑robbery officers, while Ondo State police seized three armed‑robbery gang members and firearms, including an AK‑47.

  6. 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Nigeria Police and Arms Centre Boost Joint Fight Against Illicit Weapons

    Nigeria's police and the arms‑control centre pledged tighter cooperation to destroy over 16,000 illicit weapons, citing links between illegal arms, terrorism and violent crime.

  7. 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources
    Nigeria police seize illegal firearms in Kwara and Oyo arrests

    Nigeria police in Kwara and Oyo states arrested suspects and seized locally made pistols during intelligence‑led operations, with investigations ongoing.

  8. 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 6 sources
    Ondo State Police Arrest Man for Staging Own Kidnapping

    Ondo State police arrested 33‑year‑old Olawale Sikiru and accomplice for faking a kidnapping, collecting N50,000 from his family after a N1 million ransom demand, with further arrests pending.

  9. 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Police Arrest Suspects in Imo and Abia States Over Weapons and Armed Robbery

    Police in Imo State arrested a gun‑runner linked to kidnapping syndicates and seized weapons, while Abia police detained an armed‑robbery suspect, both actions based on actionable intelligence.

  10. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 5 sources
    Ondo State Police Kill Two Suspected Kidnappers on Akure‑Owo Expressway

    Ondo police killed two suspected kidnappers after a gunfight at a block industry, recovering weapons and calling for public vigilance.

  11. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources
    Former OGTV Broadcaster Murder Suspects Remanded in Ogun State

    Three suspects in the murder of former OGTV broadcaster Kitan Oyesiku and guard Pelumi Adetayo were remanded for 60 days by an Abeokuta court, with the case adjourned to 10 Sept 2026.

  12. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 5 sources
    Nigeria Army Halts Illegal Arms Network Tied to NSCDC and Correctional Service

    Nigerian army arrested three security officers from NSCDC and the Correctional Service in a June raid, seizing firearms and ammunition linked to an illegal arms network in Enugu and Cross River states.

  13. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources
    Nigeria police arrest 15 cult-linked kidnappers in Imo and Kwara states

    Nigerian police in Imo and Kwara states arrested 15 suspects tied to cult kidnapping gangs, rescued victims and recovered weapons, while continuing to hunt remaining members.

  14. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 4 sources
    Former OGTV broadcaster Olakitan Oyesiku murdered in Ogun State; suspects arrested

    Ex‑OGTV broadcaster Olakitan Oyesiku and guard Pelumi Adetayo were murdered in Ogun State; a handwritten note led police to arrest three suspects who fled with the victim's Lexus.

  15. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Anambra police kill four armed gang members and seize weapons, explosives

    Anambra State police killed four armed gang members on June 23 during a patrol, seizing a GPMG, AK‑47s, ammunition, four IEDs and other equipment.

  16. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Ondo State Police Arrest Multiple Suspects in Kidnapping, Murder and Cultist Raids

    Ondo State police arrested four suspects for kidnapping and murder and six alleged cultists with weapons, while the Amotekun Corps rescued eight kidnapping victims.

  17. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 22 sources
    Ogun State police arrest three suspects in murder of former OGTV broadcaster Olakitan Oyesiku

    Ogun police arrested three suspects, including former guard Sodeinde Philip, for the June 21 murder of ex‑OGTV broadcaster Olakitan Oyesiku and her guard, after forensic and intelligence work recovered a stolen

  18. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Nigeria police arrest suspects with weapons in Akwa Ibom and Nasarawa

    Nigerian police arrested a man with a toy AK‑47 in Akwa Ibom and seized 174 live AK‑47 rounds from a suspect in Nasarawa.

  19. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources
    Nigeria agencies bust wildlife traffickers and seize smuggled vegetable oil

    Nigeria’s NESREA and Customs arrested four wildlife traffickers, seized 130 kg of elephant tusks, and seized over 3,300 jerry cans of smuggled vegetable oil.

  20. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Kwara State Police Arrest Four Suspected Cult Members in Ijagbo

    Kwara State Police arrested four suspected members of the illegal Eiye confraternity, including alleged leader Idowu Akorede, after a raid in Ijagbo on June 11 2026; suspects resisted but were taken unharmed to

  21. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Nigeria security forces arrest cult members in Kwara and parade 97 suspects in Ondo

    Kwara police detained alleged cult members, while Ondo’s Amotekun Corps paraded 97 suspects arrested for kidnapping, robbery and related crimes.

  22. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 9 sources
    Nigeria’s NDLEA and DSS seize drugs and intercept arms shipments

    Nigeria’s NDLEA arrested a Brazil‑based businessman with 6 kg of cocaine hidden in shirts, while DSS seized arms destined for bandits in the north‑west.

  23. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 6 sources
    Nigerian security forces seize weapons, arrest criminal gangs in Enugu, Oyo and Borno

    Nigeria's security agencies captured six gang members in Enugu, arrested armed robbers in Oyo and killed an ISWAP leader in Borno, seizing large arms caches.

  24. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Nigerian security forces seize ESN arms cache in Enugu, thwart attacks

    DSS and the Nigerian Army seized a large ESN weapons cache in Enugu, arrested commanders and stopped planned kidnappings, with Governor Mbah inspecting the haul.

  25. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 9 sources
    Nigeria's DSS and Army seize rocket launcher, AK‑47s in Enugu raids on ESN armoury

    Nigeria's DSS and army raided ESN armouries in Enugu, seizing a rocket launcher, AK‑47 rifles, ammunition and NYSC uniforms, thwarting planned kidnappings and attacks.

  26. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Nigerian police seize weapons, arrest dozens in Osun and Katsina operations

    Nigerian police arrested three cult suspects in Osun and 225 suspects in Katsina, seizing firearms, weapons and drugs while rescuing 17 kidnapping victims.

  27. 4 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Nigeria police raids seize 270 weapons, arrest 345 suspects

    Nigeria police raids in Kano and Yobe arrested 348 suspects and seized over 270 weapons, targeting criminal gangs and drug networks.

  28. 4 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Nigerian Army arrests three suspected arms dealers in Abia State

    The Nigerian Army’s 14 Brigade arrested three suspected arms dealers in Arochukwu, Abia State on 7 June 2026, seizing handmade guns, live ammunition, a motorcycle and a bus during Operation Eastern Sanity II.

  29. 4 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Nigeria's NSCDC rescues 24 from illegal Lagos detention camp, arrests four foreigners

    Nigeria's NSCDC rescued 24 victims and arrested four foreign suspects after busting an illegal detention camp in Badagry, Lagos, citing extortion and forced criminal activity.

  30. 4 months ago

    [CRIME] 16 sources
    Nigeria conducts raids in Sokoto, Edo and Delta states, arresting 24 suspects and seizing weapons and drugs

    Nigerian troops and police raids in Sokoto, Edo and Delta states arrested 24 suspects, seized weapons, drugs and a cult leader.

Sources

247ureports.com · adomonline.com · afghanistans.com · arise.tv · ashantireport.com · atlanticpostng.com · authorityngr.com · bentelevision.com · bizwatchnigeria.ng · blueprint.ng · brainnewspaper.com · businessday.ng · chale.news · championnews.com.ng · chronicle.ng · cybernoz.com · dailypost.com.ng · dailyreport.ng · dailystar.com.ng · dailytrust.com · dailytrust.com.ng · ghanabusinessnews · ghanaguardian.com · ghananewspage.com · gistmania.com · globalupfront.com · gwg.ng · healthwise.punchng.com · insidebusiness.ng · isolavirtuale.it · jocoreport.com · lindaikejisblog.com · myjoyonline.com · naijanews.com · nairametrics.com · nationalaccordnewspaper.com · nationaldailyng.com · newmail-ng.com · newscentral.africa · newsnowonline.com.ng · newtelegraphng.com · nigeriancurrent.com · nigerianeye.com · nigerianobservernews.com · nukunya.com · opemsuo.com · osiris.sn · osundefender.com

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history