The Nigeria Police Force has apprehended 239 individuals in Kogi State over alleged involvement in crimes including kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, cultism, culpable homicide, and unlawful possession of firearms.
The Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, CP Miller Dantawaye, disclosed this during his inaugural press briefing at the command’s headquarters in Lokoja.
Dantawaye refuted claims that the police are overwhelmed by the security challenges in the state, assuring residents that the fight against crime remains active and effective.
Giving a detailed account of the command’s achievements from February 2025 to date, Dantawaye stated that “66 suspects were arrested for armed robbery, 75, (kidnapping), 18, (culpable homicide), 21 (unlawful possession of fire arms), 4, (rape), 6, (cultism), and 49 were arrested for other offences.”
Items recovered from the suspects include five AK-47 rifles, two AK-49 rifles, nine magazines, 344 rounds of 7.62/39mm ammunition, 62 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, and two rounds of 7.62/59mm ammunition. Also seized were a locally made revolver barrel gun, one black pump action magazine, nine expended AK ammunition, seven expended cartridges, two pump action guns, and two locally made pistols.
According to the CP, “These achievements were due to the proactive strategies rooted in intelligence-led policing and robust interaction with the various stakeholders of our communities, particularly in the area of information sharing, since it has become obvious that security is all stakeholders’ affairs.”
While calling for greater public cooperation, Dantawaye urged residents to provide credible and timely information to the police, promising sustained efforts to combat criminality in the state.
He appealed to all residents, especially traditional rulers, religious and opinion leaders, youth groups, market bodies, farmers, herders, vigilantes, hunters, transport unions, okada riders, and tricycle operators, to support the police in their fight against crime.
