The Nigeria Police Force on Monday announced that a total of 1,630 cases involving major offenses such as Terrorism, Secessionism, Kidnapping, Armed Robbery, Banditry, and proliferation of firearms were reported between January and May of this year.
During the June 2023 meeting of Strategic Police Managers at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba revealed this information. The IGP stated that the internal security situation in the country has been relatively calm and has shown improvement, as there has been a decline in major crimes reported across all six geopolitical zones based on available data and crime analysis from January to May 2023.
Furthermore, the IGP reported that a total of 3,619 suspects were apprehended for their involvement in various crimes throughout the country during the same period. Additionally, 316 victims of kidnapping were successfully rescued, and 486 firearms, including AK-47 rifles and locally fabricated automatic weapons, were recovered.
Despite the significant achievements during this review period and the successful democratic transition on May 29, 2023, the IGP acknowledged the existing and projected threats throughout the country. These threats include the aftermath of the fuel subsidy removal and the emerging possibility of industrial strike action.
Nevertheless, the Police Boss emphasized that the Nigeria Police Force will continue to rely on the support of the Federal Government. They will reevaluate the internal security dynamics and adapt their strategies to ensure the sustained decline in crime across the country.
