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| Image: Collage released by the Nigeria Police Force showing the rescued child (top left), seized weapons and ammunition (bottom left), counterfeit US currency and equipment (top right and bottom right) recovered during the recent police raids. |
The Nigeria Police Force announced that it had rescued a kidnapped four-year-old girl and dismantled several criminal operations across multiple states. In a statement posted on social media, Force spokesman ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said these actions were part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security and break up criminal networks through intelligence-led policing.
Key Points:
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In Katsina State (northwestern Nigeria), investigators found a four-year-old girl’s kidnapping was a hoax. The child’s 14-year-old sister and three accomplices (ages 25, 19 and 16) were arrested. The girl was rescued unharmed.
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In Nasarawa State (North-Central Nigeria), officers stopped an unregistered motorcycle on a rural road in Keana Local Government Area after a tip-off about arms smuggling. The rider fled on foot. Police searched the abandoned bike and found an AK-47 rifle with two magazines and 45 rounds of ammunition. The suspect remains at large.
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In Jigawa State (northern Nigeria), a June 13 raid by police and other security agencies on villages in Birnin Kudu LGA led to the arrest of seven alleged cyber-fraud suspects. Authorities seized about $46,100 in counterfeit US dollars along with mobile phones, point-of-sale (POS) terminals and other devices used in internet fraud.
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All arrested suspects are now in custody undergoing investigation. The police said these coordinated operations demonstrate their proactive approach to crime-fighting. Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun urged citizens to stay law-abiding, cooperate with authorities, and remain vigilant for community safety.
Fake Kidnapping Foiled in Katsina State
According to the police statement, officers in Katsina State uncovered that a reported abduction of a four-year-old girl in February had been staged by her own sister. Adejobi said the Katsina State Police Command received a complaint that the younger girl and her 14-year-old sister were missing. After four months of investigation, the older sister confessed to faking the kidnapping with three accomplices, who are 25, 19 and 16 years old. “All suspects have been arrested, and the 4-year-old sister have been rescued unhurt,” Adejobi said. The three accomplices were taken into custody along with the sister, and the child was returned safely to her family. (The police did not release the names of the suspects, identifying them only by age in the statement.)
Arms Trafficking Bust in Nasarawa State
In Nasarawa State, police acting on an anonymous tip intercepted an unregistered motorcycle on the Giza–Kadarko Road in Keana Local Government Area. When the rider saw the officers, he abandoned the bike and fled into nearby bush. A search of the unattended motorcycle yielded an AK-47 rifle, two magazines and forty-five rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition. Adejobi said the suspect is still at large and that efforts to track him down are ongoing. This incident highlights the police’s continuing campaign against illegal arms trafficking in the region.
Cyber-Fraud Ring Cracked in Jigawa State
A third operation took place on June 13 in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area, Jigawa State. A joint force of Nigeria Police officers and other security agents raided hideouts in the villages of Kankare and Zurkuda based on credible intelligence. According to Adejobi, “The operation led to the arrest of seven suspected fraudsters involved in a network of financial crimes”. Authorities reported recovering numerous pieces of evidence from the suspects: about $46,100 in counterfeit US dollars, four POS devices, 13 smartphones, 29 old-style mobile phones, six power banks, two vehicle license plates, and various documents linked to electronic fraud. “All suspects are currently in custody and undergoing investigation,” he added. These items were seized to disrupt an alleged internet fraud syndicate operating in the area.
Police Statement and Public Appeal
The Nigeria Police Force said these coordinated raids reflect its commitment to proactive policing, intelligence gathering and community partnerships. In the joint statement, the force described the successes as evidence of its resolve “to combat all forms of criminality”. Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun also spoke out, urging Nigerians to cooperate with the police and exercise public vigilance. He reminded citizens that staying law-abiding and alert to suspicious activity are crucial for community safety.
In summary, the Nigeria Police say that a series of intelligence-led operations has led to the rescue of an abducted child, the arrest of multiple suspects, and the seizure of illicit weapons and counterfeit money. These outcomes were announced in official police communications and reported by the press. The authorities continue to investigate and have called on the public to assist them in ensuring community security.
Sources: Information in this report is drawn from the Nigeria Police Force’s public statements and news coverage. The quoted remarks are from Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
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