security and regulatory agencies have conducted major nationwide operations in September resulting in hundreds of arrests

Nigeria’s security and regulatory agencies have conducted major nationwide operations in September resulting in hundreds of arrests, large-scale drug seizures, asset recoveries, and multiple convictions. The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, disclosed these figures at a joint security briefing in Abuja.

According to Issa-Onilu, the Nigerian Army executed 261 operations nationwide, repelling attacks, dismantling insurgent cells, and rescuing abducted civilians. Some notable achievements include:

30 terrorists neutralized in Zamfara State during air and ground strikes
76 militants, including women and children, surrendered to security forces in Zamfara
141 kidnap victims rescued by the police
1,950 arrests linked to violent crimes, kidnapping, and banditry made by the police

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) also reported significant seizures, including over  66,000 kilogrammes of narcotics

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured 588 convictions in August alone, recovering more than ₦21 billion in assets from corruption cases.

The NOA Director-General emphasized the importance of intelligence-sharing and public cooperation in disrupting criminal networks.

He urged communities to report suspicious movements and resist spreading unverified alerts that fuel panic.