962 suspects arrested in one month over murder, cultism, others – Police

No fewer than 962 suspected criminals allegedly involved in crimes ranging from murder, cultism, rape, kidnapping, unlawful possession of firearms and armed robbery, among others have been arrested. The suspects, who were nabbed by Police operatives within January 1 and 20 across the country, were being grilled by the officers attached to different departments of […]

No fewer than 962 suspected criminals allegedly involved in crimes ranging from murder, cultism, rape, kidnapping, unlawful possession of firearms and armed robbery, among others have been arrested.

The suspects, who were nabbed by Police operatives within January 1 and 20 across the country, were being grilled by the officers attached to different departments of the force.

The spokesman of the force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an ASP, disclosed this to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday during the parade of 13 of the suspects arrested by officers of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

Giving the details, Adejobi said the number showed that 179 suspects were arrested for armed robbery, 100 for kidnapping, 152 for murder/homicide 34 for unlawful possession of prohibited firearms, 77 for rape while 110 were suspected cultists, among others.

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He said, “Since January 1, 2025, the Nigeria Police Force has recorded significant achievements in the fight against crime.

“These include the arrest of 179 armed robbery suspects, 100 kidnapping suspects, 152 murder/homicide suspects, 34 connected with unlawful possession of prohibited firearms, 77 for rape, 110 suspected cultists and recovery of 73 various firearms and 310 ammunition of various calibres.

“The police were also able to recover 56 stolen vehicles and rescue 302 victims of kidnapping across the country.”

Speaking on two of the 13 paraded suspects, Adejobi said operatives of the Force Intelligence Division-Intelligence Response Team apprehended two suspects, Folarin Tomisin, 35, and Yahaya Oladimeji, 23, for defrauding their employer of N300 million.

According to him, the suspects were employees of a lifestyle hospitality business in Ogun State and were arrested on December 13, 2024.

He revealed that the duo siphoned the company’s funds over several years, diverting the money into personal accounts to fund an expensive gambling addiction.

The senior police officer added that investigations showed that the suspects had been involved in betting for three years, with minimal financial gains despite their huge losses.

Adejobi said, “On December 13, 2024, at about 1930hrs, operatives of the FID-Intelligence Response Team arrested the duo of Folarin Tomisin, 35 years and Yahaya Oladimeji, 23 years, in Ogun State.

“The duo was arrested for the offence of corporate fraud of N300,000,000 at a lifestyle hospitality business where they were employed.

“Efforts to recover the stolen funds from the suspects proved futile as investigation reveals that most of the funds had been diverted to their accounts and were used for expensive gambling which has formed an addiction.

“The suspects have confessed to their crimes and have also revealed that they had only benefitted the sum of N2-3 million in the past three years of betting.

“One of the suspects (Folarin Tomisin) was contemplating suicide moments before his arrest due to a failed gambling addiction. Both suspects will be charged to court after the investigation.”

In a separate operation, Adejobi also said IRT operatives arrested three suspects posing as soldiers who were involved in defrauding individuals and businesses using fake bank alerts.

He said the suspects, identified as Muhammed Kabir who claimed to be a captain in the Nigerian Army, Donald Okpere, and Haruna Ibrahim (25), were apprehended in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on January 16, 2025.

Adejobi stated that Kabir led the gang, specialising in purchasing medical equipment and phones using fake alerts.

He said, “On January 16, 2025, at about 1pm, operatives of the IRT working on credible intelligence, arrested the above suspects in military uniforms.

“The suspects specialise in buying goods, mostly medical equipment and phones, using fake alerts within the FCT, Abuja. Muhammed Kabir ‘m’, who claims to be a captain in the Nigerian Army, is the leader of the gang; he operates with one Donald Okpere ‘m’ and one Musa Mujahid ‘m’ (at large).

“Muhammed Kabir has confessed to having purchased several medical equipment with fake alerts at a cumulative price of N3.2m and sold them to one Haruna Ibrahim at the rate of N1.1m. An investigation is still ongoing, and more complainants are coming forward.”