98 Nabbed in Lagos for Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, & Cultism.
The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended 98 individuals for various crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, and drug trafficking. This was disclosed by the State Commissioner of Police, Ishola Olanrewaju, during a press conference held yesterday at the Command headquarters in Ikeja. The arrests occurred between September 17 and 24 . Olanrewaju said
“We have successfully cracked several cases and brought to book suspects involved in crimes such as robbery, cultism, and kidnapping,” He stated that the operations led to the recovery of several items, including 10 firearms, 41 rounds of live ammunition, 12 phones, 39 bags of cement, a ton of rods, various hard drugs, and charms.
A significant arrest took place on September 20th in the Ikotun area, where two suspected armed robbers, Godwin Chukwuebuka and 23-year-old Solomon Balogun, were apprehended. Authorities recovered an AK-47 rifle with three rounds of ammunition, along with two locally made double-barrel guns.
Another notable case involved the rescue of a 21-year-old woman who was kidnapped in Badagry. The suspects, Hassan Samson (35), Nnemka Chibike (26), and Segun Akinyola (32), were arrested after a failed ransom demand of N10 million, and the victim was freed.
In another incident, police arrested three men, Desmond Emeka (28), Kingsley Izoronwu (37), and Sheriff Olusunmoadi (25), on September 22. The suspects were reportedly targeting female passengers at night and were found with local pistols, six cartridges, and 12 iPhones.
Olanrewaju explained 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.
Plastic-for-Tuition School In Lagos At Risk Of Closure
In a separate operation in Ajegunle, two notorious cultists, Odunola Oluwaseyi and Ayobami Fashola, both 27 years old, were arrested along with Mustafa Lawal, 23. Two local pistols were also recovered during the operation.
Olanrewaju also calls attention to the arrest of suspects linked to the illegal firearms trade. Among them is 29-year-old Oliver Okechukwu, who were apprehended for selling more than 350 firearms, operating under the cover of a logistics company.
During various operations aimed at combating drug trafficking, the police arrested individuals with significant amounts of hard drugs, including cocaine and substances believed to be Indian hemp. On September 18, an arrest in the Ojo area resulted in the confiscation of 120 wraps of cocaine
Olanrewaju reaffirmed his dedication to lowering crime rates in Lagos State. He stressed the need for cooperation between the police and the community, encouraging residents to report any suspicious activities. He stated “ Security is everyone’s business. We urge you to give us your support and say something when you see something.”
Olanrewaju assured that the suspects would be prosecuted once the investigations are complete.
Content Credit| Igbakuma Rita Doom
Picture Credit | https://www.thecable.ng/police-arrest-88-criminals-following-launch-of-operation-flush-in-lagos/
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/09/new-lagos-cp-leads-operation-arrests-98-suspects-in-one-week/
