The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) arrested no fewer than 46,399 suspects across the federation between April 2021 and April 2022.

A breakdown of the figure revealed that 754 terrorism/banditry suspects, 409 suspected secessionists and 4,391 murder suspects were arrested within the period.

Others are 4,696 armed robbery suspects; 2,354 suspected kidnappers; 3,767 suspected cultists; and 9,008 sexual and gender-based violence suspects while 21,020 were classified as others.

These were contained in a crime index prepared by the Force Headquarters, a copy of which was sighted by our correspondent on Wednesday.

Also, the police across the nation recovered a total of 3,076 sophisticated firearms, 56,779 ammunition as well as 1,108 stolen vehicles within the period.

Similarly, no fewer than 3,336 kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt by the police nationwide.

The index also revealed that a total number of 76,995 cases across the country were charged to court out of which a total of 16,768 offenders have been convicted while 58, 394 cases are still active.

Commenting on this, a security expert, Ben Okezie, said there was the need for analysis into the past to determine if crime rate is on the increase in the country.

He said, “We need to do a comparative study of crime rates in the country before now and then to see if crime is on the rise or not.

“Notwithstanding, we should encourage them so that they can do more. The government should be blamed for the rising insecurity in the country. They have failed us.

“However, for us to end insecurity in the country, the government must tackle unemployment, fix the economy and you would see that crime rate will drop.”

A lawyer and the Executive Director of the Advocate for Peoples’ Rights, Victor Giwa, said the police should do more to ensure the security of lives and property of citizens.

He said, “We need the conviction of high profile criminals. We have not heard of that and I am sure they are not part of the numbers you gave.

“We need to hear the conviction of those behind the Offa robbery and the killers of Bola Ige among others. Most of the convictions are petty offences. Above all, they need to step up their efforts and ensure security improves in the country.”