The police said it arrested 1,246  suspects for their roles  in various offences between Oct. 1 to 30.

The Force public relations officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this at a news conference on Wednesday  in Abuja.

Mr Adejobi said that 371 of the suspects were arrested over alleged armed robbery, kidnapping,186, murder and homicide, 242, unlawful possession of prohibited firearms, 63, rape, 217, while 167 were arrested over cultism.

The Force PPRO stated that 210 various firearms, 3, 172 ammunition of various calibres as well as 118 stolen vehicles were also recovered from the suspects, with 64 kidnap victims rescued within the period under review.

He said that operatives of  Special Assignment Team (SAT) from the police command in Delta, within the period under review, arrested 52 suspects over alleged kidnapping, cultism, gunrunning and other criminal offences.

Md Adejobi said that the suspects were arrested during various operations by operatives of SAT in the state.

According to him, seven AK-47 rifles, 1 AK-49 rifle, one G3 rifle, six pump action rifles, nine LMG rifles, 16 Beretta pistols, 35 live cartridges and 53 live ammunition were recovered from the suspects.

Mr Adejobi added that the sum of N5.5 million suspected to be ransom collected along with three kidnapped victims were rescued during the period under review.

The spokesman said that operatives from the anti-kidnapping unit of the police command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Oct. 1 trailed and arrested four notorious kidnappers terrorising the FCT.

He said the suspects were arrested in their criminal hideout in Sauka area of Abuja following credible intelligence.

According to him, the suspects have confessed to be responsible for series of kidnappings within the FCT and its environs and the killing of seven victims in the process.

“The gang have launched attacks in Dakwa, Dawaki, Aco Estate, Dupe Village Zuma rock, Kuchiko village and some villages in Niger and Kaduna States.

“They also led Police operatives to another hideout in Gauraka Forest, Suleja, Niger , where they dug out four AK-47 rifles, 13 AK-47 magazines and 162 rounds of 7.6 mm live ammunition,” he said.

 (NAN)