Security Agencies Record Major Wins in August: Police Make 1,950 Arrests, EFCC Recovers N21BN

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force made 1,950 arrests and rescued 141 victims in August, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured 588 convictions and recovered N21.06 billion.

The NOA Director-General, Lanre Issa-Onilu, revealed the figures at the agency’s second monthly Joint Security Press Briefing held on Monday in Abuja.

According to Issa-Onilu, the Nigerian Army carried out 261 operations nationwide, repelling an ambush by the Islamic State West Africa Province, neutralising 30 terrorists in Zamfara air-ground strikes, and securing the surrender of 76 others, including women and children.

The agency said the Nigeria Police dismantled 37 criminal gangs, neutralised 18 terrorists, recorded 17 personnel casualties and 42 civilian deaths, and rescued 141 kidnap victims in 210 operations across the country.

In the fight against corruption, the EFCC investigated 1,293 cases, recovered N21.06 billion, and foreign currencies including $2.02 million, £74,450, and €201,015.

The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recorded 944 arrests, filed 186 cases in court with 17 convictions, including two drug kingpins, and seized 66,255.81 kg of narcotics, firearms, ammunition, vehicles, and N26 million in drug proceeds.

Issa-Onilu said the results reflected improved inter-agency coordination, intelligence-led operations, and public-facing communication to counter misinformation, in line with Presidential directives to ensure national security.