The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 98 suspects linked to various criminal activities such as armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, and drug trafficking. The arrests were made between September 17 and 24, as announced by the State Commissioner of Police, Ishola Olanrewaju, during a press conference at the Command headquarters in Ikeja.
“We have successfully cracked several cases and brought to book suspects involved in crimes such as robbery, cultism, and kidnapping,” Olanrewaju said, highlighting the command’s recent successes.
During the operations, the police recovered an array of items, including 10 firearms, 41 rounds of live ammunition, 12 phones, 39 bags of cement, a ton of rods, various hard drugs, and charms.
One of the key arrests involved two suspected armed robbers, Godwin Chukwuebuka and Solomon Balogun, both 23 years old, who were apprehended in the Ikotun area on September 20. Recovered from them were an AK-47 rifle with three rounds of ammunition and two local double-barrel guns.
In another significant case, the police rescued a 21-year-old woman kidnapped in Badagry. The suspects, Hassan Samson, 35, Nnemka Chibike, 26, and Segun Akinyola, 32, were arrested after attempting to demand a N10 million ransom.
The police also nabbed three men, Desmond Emeka, 28, Kingsley Izoronwu, 37, and Sheriff Olusunmoadi, 25, on September 22, who were involved in robbing female passengers at night. Recovered from the suspects were local pistols, six cartridges, and 12 iPhones.
Olanrewaju further mentioned the arrest of a notorious ‘one-chance’ robbery syndicate in Oyingbo. Four suspects were apprehended at a hotel in Ajegunle after transferring N5.6 million from a victim’s account. Items recovered included a local pistol, a PoS terminal, and their operational bus.
Several arrests were also made in connection with cultism. In a raid in Ikorodu, the police arrested two suspects, Hassan Ibrahim, 24, and Quadri Lasisi, 22, recovering a Beretta pistol and 24 live cartridges. In another operation in Ajegunle, notorious cultists Odunola Oluwaseyi, Ayobami Fashola, both 27, and Mustafa Lawal, 23, were arrested, and two local pistols were seized.
In a related case, the police apprehended three individuals, including Oliver Okechukwu, 29, for the illegal sale of over 350 firearms under the guise of a logistics company.
Additionally, anti-drug trafficking operations resulted in arrests with substantial quantities of drugs, including cocaine and substances suspected to be Indian hemp. A major bust on September 18 in Ojo led to the seizure of 120 wraps of cocaine.
The Commissioner of Police reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating crime and emphasized the importance of public collaboration. “Security is everyone’s business. We urge you to give us your support and say something when you see something,” Olanrewaju urged residents.
