The Lagos State Police Command has made significant strides in its fight against crime, arresting 32 suspected criminals and recovering a range of items, including five pump-action guns, five locally made pistols, 43 vehicles, and N2.5m in cash. The Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, disclosed this information during a briefing on the command's achievements. The recovered items also included 20 live ammunition/cartridges, 15 expended ammunition, two cutlasses, charms, vandalised electrical wires, vehicle spare parts, and tools.
According to CP Tijani Fatai, the arrests were made through intelligence-led operations, stop-and-search activities, and other crime prevention strategies. One of the incidents that led to an arrest involved a police sergeant, Johnson Okediji, who was killed on September 26 while attempting to stop a fleeing motorist in Egbeda. The driver, 21-year-old Olumide Olusola, initially complied with the police but sped off, knocking Okediji down and dragging him beneath the vehicle for several metres.
Olusola was arrested after a chase, and the vehicle was recovered. Okediji's remains were deposited at the Mainland Hospital Mortuary for preservation and autopsy. In a separate operation, police operatives arrested 32-year-old Ojo Azeez along Oko Oba Road after some suspected hoodlums fled on sighting a patrol team. The officers recovered a locally made cut-to-size pistol, radiator, car jack, engine block, and a bag containing vehicle spare parts and tools.
The Lagos State Police Command also arrested 29-year-old Ezekiel Sunday Obi over an alleged robbery at Ghost and Spirit Lounge, Ekoro Road, Abule Egba. Obi was arrested at the Toll Gate area of the Lagos-Ogun boundary, while efforts continued to apprehend other gang members. Additionally, one Ogunbayo Abdulwahib was arrested over an alleged robbery involving suspects who traveled from Idi-Oro, Mushin, to Chevron, Lekki-Ajah.
According to CP Tijani Fatai, Abdulwahib allegedly led detectives to a hotel in Idi-Oro, where N2.5m and three mobile phones were recovered from a room he reportedly shared with his gang members who fled before police arrived. The suspects led officers to arrest three other suspected robbers, namely Lekan Jimoh, 32; Oyepeju Olanrewaju, 33; and Olurebi Suleiman, 30, at Idi-Oro.
Further investigation led to the arrest of 26-year-old Ebuka Benedict at Olorunsogo, Mushin, where police allegedly recovered a locally made Beretta pistol and four live 9mm ammunition from his room. The command also impounded more than 41 vehicles during an early-morning operation targeting vehicles with covered number plates and unregistered vehicles.
The Lagos State Police boss emphasized that the command would protect personnel performing their lawful duties, while officers who violated professional standards would be held accountable. He commended the officers and urged residents to provide timely, credible information to aid in the fight against crime.
Key points
- 32 suspects arrested, 5 pump-action guns and 43 vehicles recovered
- Police sergeant killed during operation, driver arrested
- N2.5m and mobile phones recovered from hotel room
