The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 98 individuals involved in various crimes ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism to drug trafficking.
The state Commissioner of Police, Ishola Olanrewaju, announced this on Wednesday at news conference at the Command headquarters in Ikeja.
The arrests were made between September 17 and 24.
“We have successfully cracked several cases and brought to book suspects involved in crimes such as robbery, cultism, and kidnapping,” Olanrewaju said.
He noted that during the operations, a range of items were recovered, 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 notable arrests involved a group of suspected armed robbers, identified as Godwin Chukwuebuka and Solomon Balogun, 23 years old. The suspects were apprehended in the Ikotun area on September 20. Officers recovered an AK-47 rifle with three rounds of ammunition, and two local double-barrel guns.
Another high-profile case involved the rescue of a 21-year-old woman who had been kidnapped in Badagry. The suspects involved in the kidnap case, Hassan Samson, 35, Nnemka Chibike, 26, and Segun Akinyola, 32, were arrested, and the victim was freed after a failed attempt to demand a ransom of N10 million.
The police also apprehended three men: Desmond Emeka, 28, Kingsley Izoronwu, 37, and Sheriff Olusunmoadi, 25, on September 22. The suspects had targeted female passengers at night with local pistols, six cartridges, and 12 iPhones.
Olanrewaju further said a case involving a ‘one-chance’ robbery syndicate in Oyingbo. Four suspects were arrested at a hotel in Ajegunle after robbing a victim and transferring N5.6 million from their accounts. Recovered items included a local pistol, a PoS terminal, and the gang’s operational bus.
Several arrests linked to cultism were made with the police netting multiple individuals suspected of engaging in cult-related killings across the state. A raid in Ikorodu led to the arrest of two suspects, Hassan Ibrahim, 24, and Quadri Lasisi, 22, with a Beretta pistol and 24 live cartridges in their possession.
A separate operation in Ajegunle resulted in the arrest of two notorious cultists, Odunola Oluwaseyi and Ayobami Fashola, both aged 27, alongside Mustafa Lawal, 23. Two local pistols were recovered.
Olanrewaju also highlighted the arrest of suspects involved in the illegal sales of firearms. Three individuals, including Oliver Okechukwu, 29, were arrested in connection with the sale of over 350 firearms under the guise of a logistics company.
In several operations targeting drug trafficking, the police arrested individuals found in possession of substantial quantities of hard drugs, including cocaine and substances suspected to be Indian hemp. One arrest on September 18 in the Ojo area involved the seizure of 120 wraps of cocaine.
Olanrewaju reiterated his commitment to reducing crime in Lagos State. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the police and the public, urging residents to report suspicious activities.
“Security is everyone’s business. We urge you to give us your support and say something when you see something,” he stated.
The suspects will face prosecution after investigations are concluded, Olanrewaju confirmed.
