Lagos Police crackdown: 32 suspects arrested in month-long operation
By Sodiq Adelakun
In a major breakthrough, the Lagos State Police Command has apprehended 32 suspects allegedly involved in a range of criminal activities over the past month.
The arrests were made as part of a concerted effort by the police to combat crime and maintain law and order in the state.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed the details of the arrests during a press conference held at the State Police Headquarters in Ikeja on Tuesday.
Hundeyin stated that the suspects were involved in various crimes, including adulteration of products, fabrication of firearms, armed robbery, stealing, and cultism.
He said within the period, 25 firearms, including a toy gun, 74 live cartridges, 12 expended cartridges and 12 long pipes were recovered from the suspects.
Hundeyin said other items recovered during the period were two drilling machines, one gas cylinder, one vehicle, fabricated tools, two daggers, one UTC axe, various charms and 251 adulterated wires.
He said that on Sept. 18, at about 2.30 p.m., operatives of the Command arrested a 27-year-old man, who disguised himself as a dispatch rider to vandalise vehicles by removing brain boxes and other parts.
Hundeyin said based on actionable intelligence on Sept. 11, at about 4.00 p.m., a blacksmith factory, that allegedly fabricate firearms for onward sales to criminals around Idata Village of Ibeju-Lekki, was busted and two suspects were arrested.
“The following items were recovered from the factory: three single-barrel locally-made pistols, one double-barrel locally-made gun, one single-barrel locally-made gun, two single-barrel locally-made long gun, ten expended cartridges, twelve long pipes, two drilling machines, one gas cylinder, one vehicle and other fabricated tools,” he said.
Hundeyin also said that the police arrested a wanted suspected cultist and armed robber on Oct. 11, at about 11.45 p.m. at Yaba area, after killing a rival cultist.
He said through the suspect, six others were arrested in Ikorodu area with two locally made single barrel guns, one double barrel shot gun, three live cartridges, one dagger and different charms.
Hundeyin said one suspect, whose gang specialises in harassing, intimidating and extorting members of the public, in full military uniform was arrested on Oct. 2.
He said other members of the gang fled upon sighting the police.
The image maker said that all suspects would be arraigned at the conclusion of investigations.
Meanwhile, the command has directed all persons with illegal arms and ammunition to come forward and submit them without getting arrested or prosecuted.
The Spokesperson said the directive was in compliance with the Inspector-General of Police directive to mop up arms and ammunition in the hands of non-state actors within their respective jurisdictions.
“The command will continue the clampdown on the illegal fabrication, sales, possession, and use of prohibited firearms in the state,” Hundeyin said.
