The police have arrested a total of 6,531 suspects and recovered 2,037 firearms of various calibres, as well as 21,870 rounds of ammunition between April 5 and December 15, 2019.
The force said it also recovered 1,662 vehicles and rescued 945 kidnapped victims within the period.
Disclosing this in Abuja on Monday during the monthly conference with senior officers, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, said the arrests were made by Operation Puff Adder operatives.
He was, however, unable to give the number of convicted suspects and those under prosecution.
He said, “All these achievements would not have been possible without the sacrifice of all of you seated here as well as other officers across all ranks who are out there sacrificing day and night for the safety and security of citizens of our beloved nation.”
Responding to questions about the huge number of police checkpoints in the South-East, the IG said, “The checkpoints were based on the security assessment of the zone and they will not be removed for now.”
Speaking on the preparations for the Yuletide, Adamu directed all command Commissioners of Police and Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to ensure that their areas were properly policed.
The police boss disclosed that the force had acquired more patrol vehicles, electronic surveillance and civil disorder management vehicles, adding that it had also completed the National Command and Control Centre as well as the first phase of the Nigeria Police Crime and Incident Database Centre.
He said in 2020 he planned to improve the capacity and efficiency of the police by investing in intelligence and crime prevention and control.