Nigerian police record 418 homicides and 227 kidnappings in eight weeks
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
The Nigerian police recorded 418 homicides and 227 kidnappings in eight weeks, according to their November 2026 performance report. They arrested 1,519 suspects and recovered 191 firearms in operations carried out with the army.
The Nigerian police recorded 418 homicides and 227 kidnappings over eight weeks, according to a Nigeria Police Force performance report published in November 2026 and reported by Punch. The document, presented by Inspector General of Police Olatunji Disu, lists over the same period 168 banditry incidents, 51 acts of terrorism, 165 armed robberies, 73 clashes between cult groups and 49 cases of gender-based violence.
Operations carried out during that time led to the arrest of 1,519 suspects, the recovery of 191 firearms and 3,873 rounds of ammunition, and the seizure of 117 stolen or illicit vehicles. The police say they freed 255 kidnapping victims and "neutralised" 56 armed criminals.
The police attribute these results to an "aggressive, intelligence-led and technology-driven" operational posture, carried out with the armed forces and other security partners to reduce the capacity of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and cult members in all regions of the country. They present the figures as the fruit of their officers' courage and sacrifice, reaffirming their commitment to protecting people and property.
The publication comes the day after the Nigerian army announced the release of 42 hostages during military operations, and more than 55 terrorists killed in one week, amid increased pressure from the security forces on armed groups.
