Seven hundred twenty-five suspects involved in armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, unlawful possession of firearms, rape, cultism, and other criminal offences within three weeks, the Nigeria Police Force announced said on Wednesday.

The police’s national spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said this during a media briefing in Abuja.

According to the police, 179 of the suspects were arrested for armed robbery, 100 for kidnapping, 152 for murder/homicide, 34 for unlawful possession of prohibited firearms, 77 for rape, and 110 for cultism.

Mr Adejobi reported the recovery of 73 firearms, 310 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, and 56 stolen vehicles, while 302 kidnapped victims were rescued during the period under review.

In the briefing, Adejobi displayed items recovered by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team, including 13 arrested suspects, 61 AK-47 rifles, four single-barrel rifles, 702 rounds of ammunition, assorted drugs, suspected Indian hemp, codeine, and forged documents.

He disclosed that all arrested suspects had given confessional statements and assisted operatives in gathering more information to apprehend other criminals.

Additionally, Mr Adejobi revealed that three suspects were arrested on January 16 while wearing military uniforms and accused of criminal conspiracy, impersonation, fraud, and cheating.

He said the suspects, who specialised in purchasing goods, particularly medical equipment and phones, using fake alerts, were apprehended following credible intelligence.

Mr Adejobi said one of the suspects, who claimed to be a captain in the Nigerian Army, confessed to buying medical equipment worth N3 million using fake alerts and selling them for N1.1 million.

He added that while the investigation continued, medical equipment and a Toyota Corolla were recovered from the suspects.

(NAN)