# Nigeria-wide security raids and arrests > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/nigeria-security-crackdown-on-criminal-networks > Updated: 2026-08-03T17:32:48.000Z. Sources: 58. Developments: 29. 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. June 13 saw NDLEA arrest a cocaine‑smuggling businessman and DSS intercept an arms courier carrying AK‑47s and RPG tubes. Throughout June, Kwara and Ondo police arrested cult members and paraded dozens of suspects, while wildlife‑crime and smuggled oil seizures highlighted broader enforcement. In late June, Akwa Ibom and Nasarawa police seized a toy AK‑47 and live ammunition; Akwa Ibom also investigated lynching cases. July brought arrests of cult‑linked kidnappers in Imo and Kwara, an army crackdown on an illegal arms network involving NSCDC and correctional officers, and killings of suspected kidnappers in Ondo. Police‑DSS collaboration was formalised in July, and on 20 July Osun and Ondo units detained a NURTW gunman and an interstate robbery gang. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-03: 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. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/oyo-state-police-arrest-three-suspected-armed-robbers-in-ibadan ### 2026-07-31: 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. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kwara-state-police-arrest-22-suspects-in-kidnapping-and-murder-case ### 2026-07-20: 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. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/akwa-ibom-police-arrest-four-suspects-in-lynching-of-two-young-men ### 2026-07-20: 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. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigerian-police-arrest-suspects-after-shootings-and-armed-robbery-in-osun-and-ondo ### 2026-07-17: 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. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigeria-police-and-arms-centre-boost-joint-fight-against-illicit-weapons ### 2026-07-13: 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. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigeria-police-seize-illegal-firearms-in-kwara-and-oyo-arrests ### 2026-07-11: 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. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ondo-state-police-arrest-man-for-staging-own-kidnapping ### 2026-07-10: 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. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/police-arrest-suspects-in-imo-and-abia-states-over-weapons-and-armed-robbery ### 2026-07-08: 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. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ondo-state-police-kill-two-suspected-kidnappers-in-akureowo-expressway-shootout ### 2026-07-06: 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. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ogun-state-police-arraign-three-suspects-in-murder-of-ex-ogtv-broadcaster-kitan-oyesiku ### 2026-07-02: 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. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigeria-army-halts-illegal-arms-network-tied-to-nscdc-and-correctional-service ### 2026-07-02: 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. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigeria-police-arrest-15-cult-linked-kidnappers-in-imo-and-kwara-states ### 2026-06-26: 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. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/former-ogtv-broadcaster-olakitan-oyesiku-murdered-in-ogun-state-suspects-arrested ### 2026-06-25: 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. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/anambra-police-kill-four-armed-gang-members-and-seize-weapons-explosives ### 2026-06-24: 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. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/police-in-kenya-and-nigeria-arrest-suspects-in-stolen-telecom-equipment-raids ### 2026-06-23: 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 22 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigeria-police-detain-armed-robbers-in-oyo-and-neutralise-armed-separatists-in-anambra ### 2026-06-23: 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. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigeria-police-arrest-suspects-with-weapons-in-akwa-ibom-and-nasarawa ### 2026-06-15: 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. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigeria-agencies-bust-wildlife-traffickers-and-seize-smuggled-vegetable-oil ### 2026-06-15: 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 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kwara-state-police-arrest-four-suspected-cult-members-in-ijagbo ### 2026-06-13: 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. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigeria-security-forces-arrest-cult-members-in-kwara-and-parade-97-suspects-in-ondo ### 2026-06-13: 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. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigerias-dss-seizes-arms-bound-for-zamfara-bandit-kingpin ### 2026-06-12: 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. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigerian-security-forces-thwart-student-kidnapping-and-seize-arms-in-enugu ### 2026-06-11: 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. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigerian-security-forces-seize-esn-arms-cache-in-enugu-thwart-attacks ### 2026-06-11: 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. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigerias-dss-and-army-seize-rocket-launcher-and-arms-in-enugu-raid-on-esn ### 2026-06-10: 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. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigerian-police-seize-weapons-arrest-dozens-in-osun-and-katsina-operations ### 2026-06-08: 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. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigeria-police-raids-seize-270-weapons-arrest-345-suspects ### 2026-06-07: 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. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigerian-army-arrests-three-suspected-arms-dealers-in-abia-state ### 2026-06-05: 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. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigerias-nscdc-rescues-24-from-illegal-lagos-detention-camp-arrests-four-foreigners ### 2026-05-18: 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. 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nigerian-security-forces-arrest-24-suspects-and-seize-weapons-in-raids-across-sokoto-edo-and-delta --- Cite as: Nigeria-wide security raids and arrests. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/nigeria-security-crackdown-on-criminal-networks