The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has ramped up its efforts to secure the nation’s highways, recently announcing a significant breakthrough with the arrest of 50 suspects involved in various high-level crimes.
​According to reports from mid-April 2026, these arrests were the result of coordinated operations by the Force Intelligence Department-Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) over the last few months.
A major focus of the operation was dismantling gangs specializing in mounting fake police checkpoints. These groups often used stolen or fabricated Police Mobile Force uniforms to deceive and rob unsuspecting travelers.
​Arrests and Recoveries were made beyond the 50 individuals taken into custody, the police recovered an arsenal of weaponry and equipment, including 17 rifles (including locally fabricated and revolver pistols). Live cartridges and ammunition, Walkie-talkies and magazines.
Significant activity was noted along major transit corridors, including the Deidei/Kubwa Expressway in Abuja and various routes in Benue State. The suspects are being investigated for a range of offenses including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, banditry, and armed robbery.
The use of “decoy” checkpoints has been a persistent thorn in the side of Nigerian road security, as it exploits the trust citizens place in law enforcement. This renewed push is part of a broader strategy by the NPF to restore confidence in highway travel and reduce the incidence of “expressway” kidnappings that have plagued certain regions.
The NPF typically advises motorists to be wary of checkpoints in isolated areas that lack official marked vehicles or proper identification, though these arrests suggest the “bad actors” are becoming more sophisticated in their disguises.
