Nigeria Police Force has arrested 424 kidnap and 276 armed robbery suspects across the country.

Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu said this at a meeting with officers on the ranks of commissioner and above in Abuja.

According to Adamu, the suspects were arrested between May 10 and June 14 in Kaduna state, Nasarawa state, Katsina state , Taraba, Kano state and Edo.

Adamu said the arrest was effected by personnel of the Operation Puff Adder recently launched across the country to address internal security threats.

He said Kaduna state recorded the highest number of kidnap suspects with 101, Katsina state, 79, Nasarawa state, 54 and Taraba, 32.

The police boss said Edo recorded the highest number of 38 armed robbery suspects, Nasarawa 25, Federal Capital Territory, 23.

He said 10, 860 ammunition were recovered while 301 firearms including a rocket launcher, AK 47 rifles, pistols and locally made gun.

Adamu said Katsina state recorded the highest number of firearms with 80, Edo, 26 and Kaduna state, 25.

He said 176 suspected cultists were also arrested across the country during the period under review and 77 vehicles recovered.

The police boss said within the period under review, 44 murder suspects were also arrested, with seven in the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) and six in Kano state.

He said the arrests were made possible with the cooperation of members of the public and the dedication of police commanders and other tanks.

“I want to reassure the citizens that the police has emplaced frameworks that will facilitate the strengthening of operation Puff Adder and ensure the sustenance of its gains,”he said.

Adamu assured personnel of concerted efforts of the Federal Government to address the challenges confronting the force.

He said the strategies include the adoption and implementation of the concept aimed at changing the policing narratives of the country.

“This will ensure the effective integration of the citizens to our internal security framework, guarantee the concept of policing by public consent and build partnership required to address peculiar communal threats,”he said.

He charged police commanders to redouble their efforts in ensuring the safety and protection of lives and property in their jurisdiction.

Adamu assured Nigerians of commitment of the police to sustain the war against crimes by taking the battle to the door steps of criminal elements.

” We only request one thing which is the continued goodwill, understanding, and support of all citizens across socio-economic background,”he said.

Adamu said none of its personnel was involved in the election crisis that rocked Rivers state during the 2019 General Elections.

He noted that he had not received any report from the state on the misbehavior of any Police Officer during the election.

This is coming on the heels of reports of the parade of a Colonel and other lower rank officers for the role they played in the Rivers State election.

According to the Police Boss who said operation Puff Adder has been a very potent anti-crime vehicle of the Nigeria Police, within the period under review of May ten and June fourteen, the Federal Capital Territory ranks high with seven murder suspects arrested while a total of four hundred and twenty four kidnap suspects were arrested in the period under review.

Stressing that he is conscious of the challenges in Commands and Police formations across the country, the IGP charged officers of the force to sustain a sense of commitment to duty.