The Nasarawa State Police Command has launched forest raids to flush out kidnappers, bandits and other suspected criminals. The operation targets criminal hideouts across the state.
Police Commissioner Shetima Mohammed flagged off the exercise at Alagye Forest in Doma Local Government Area on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The operation follows a directive from Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu.
The operation aims to dismantle criminal camps and improve security in affected communities. Meanwhile, tactical squads, anti-kidnapping units and intelligence operatives have deployed to identified security flashpoints.
Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Sanusi Jidda, said intelligence reports identified Alagye Forest as a suspected hideout for kidnappers and bandits.
Consequently, the command plans to extend the exercise to other forested areas, including locations around Akwanga and Toto local government areas.
Jidda said more than six units of personnel were participating in the operation. Furthermore, officers would search suspected criminal camps and pursue suspects for prosecution.
To improve coordination, the command has divided the state into three operational sectors.
Sector A covers the Lafia zone under Assistant Commissioner of Police Lamidu Alkali. Sector B covers the Akwanga zone under Assistant Commissioner of Police Kadir Umar.
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police Olobekga Saligo heads Sector C, which covers the Keffi zone and surrounding areas, including Toto.
Jidda will coordinate activities across the three sectors. As a result, the command expects better operational coverage and more effective action against criminal groups.
Mohammed said the exercise would continue until the end of December 2026. He also directed officers to maintain professionalism and follow established rules of engagement.
However, the police have not announced the number of arrests, weapons recovered or victims rescued during the operation.
Therefore, subsequent updates will be important in assessing the exercise’s effectiveness.
Mohammed urged residents to provide credible information about suspicious movements and suspected criminal activities. He assured the public that the command would treat information confidentially.
Additionally, he encouraged residents to remain law-abiding and cooperate with security agencies.
Public cooperation can help officers identify threats and direct resources to affected communities. Nevertheless, residents should report suspicious activity through official channels rather than confront suspected criminals.
Forested areas can provide cover for criminal groups and make surveillance more difficult. Consequently, security agencies may struggle to locate suspects and rescue kidnapped victims in remote locations.
The coordinated operation could improve intelligence gathering and targeted patrols. However, lasting results will also depend on effective investigations, evidence gathering and prosecution where appropriate.
Furthermore, continued engagement with local communities can help authorities identify emerging threats and improve public confidence.
The Nasarawa State Police Command says it will sustain the operation until the end of December.
For now, officers are focusing on suspected criminal hideouts and security threats across forest corridors. Meanwhile, residents have been urged to provide credible intelligence to support the exercise.
The operation’s impact will become clearer as the police release verified updates on arrests, recovered weapons, rescued victims and other results.
