On Thursday, the Lagos State Police Command paraded 66 suspected criminals, including those it said were responsible for an attack around the Airport Hotel in Ikeja, which resulted in the death of a police officer.
The suspects are linked to different crimes including armed robbery, illegal possession of weapons, identity theft, sectarianism and murder, said Idowu Owohunwa, the police commissioner told reporters at the police officers’ mess in ikeja.
He said they were detained after police launched ‘Operation Flush’ last week to combat crime in the state.
The operation led to the arrest of 14 suspected criminals on August 4 at Mile 2 and another 23 on August 8 in Apapa for allegedly extorting money from motorists, especially truckers.
“It should be noted that the operation is continuous and will be replicated in other parts of the state,” said the police chief.
Owohunwa said the suspects were arrested after a month.
“Out of all these cases that we successfully resolved, we recovered a total of 14 firearms, including two AK47 rifles, one of which was locally made, two locally made toy guns, 15 live cartridges, four spent cartridges, 25 live ammunition , five machetes, 34 bags of weed suspected to be Indian hemp, six vehicles, two bags containing counterfeit US dollars and counterfeit GBP notes.
“Two Buccaneer fraternity badges, one Buccaneer banner, one pair of police camouflage uniforms, one pocket knife, one police ID card, two hoods, black pipes, some amount of weed suspected of being It’s Indian hemp and sixty-six barrels of fake tobacco. Motor oil.”
Speaking about the alleged murder of a police officer in Lagos, Owohunwa said that six suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.
“On August 3, 2023, at approximately 10:00 p.m., based on intelligence gathering regarding the armed robbery incident around the Ikeja Airport Hotel that resulted in the brutal murder of a police officer and the theft of his rifle, Commando agents embarked on a discreet investigation. and arrested Salami Ahmed ‘m’ aged 30, Ismaila Adio ‘m’ aged 22, Toheeb Muri ‘m’ aged 23, Seyi Olajide ‘m’ aged 24, Nelson Sunday ‘m’ aged 34 and James Nnamani 24-year-old ‘m’ in their hideout in the Alagbado and Amikanle areas of Lagos state,” he said.
“An AK47 rifle with twenty-one rounds of live ammunition was recovered. This syndicate is also responsible for the robbery at a popular nightclub in Ikeja on July 19, 2023.
“On August 10, 2023, at around 1:10 p.m., Commando agents arrested Solomon Ochohepor ‘m’, 40 years old, and Abu Ibrahim ‘m’, 47 years old, for identity theft.
“The duo posed as mobile police officers guarding a farm and were arrested while attempting to make an arrest in a case reported by a lady who thought they were bona fide officers.”
The police chief further said that on August 18 some suspected cultists were arrested based on intelligence gathering at their hideouts in Sabo-Yaba and Ijesha-Surulere. The suspects are Daniel Ojo, 35, and Giwa Quadri, 36.
“The following items were recovered from both scenes: one pump-action rifle, one locally made pistol, three live cartridges, three spent cartridges, three trademark machetes, two Buccaneer fraternity recognition plaques, and a Buccaneer banner, among other incriminating items,” he said. .
In an interview with reporters, one of the suspects said that his friend induced him to steal and that he deeply regrets his actions.
Police recovered a Spyder Victor Paintball Marker semi-automatic pistol and a machete from the suspect when he was arrested.
While speaking about the cult, the police chief said: “On August 17, 2023, at approximately 5:00 p.m., a compiled intelligence report revealed that deadly, notorious and wanted cultists known as ‘Aleeba’ and ‘Agbara ‘ who were involved in the murders of a rival sect. Members of the group and innocent residents during sect-related clashes in Isolo were seen in their hideouts in the Ayoobo and Atan area of Ogun State.
“The mommand’s police officers went into action and arrested Busayo Emmanuel, alias Aleeba, and Rahman Taiwo, alias Agbara, both 27 years old.”
“The investigation revealed that Aleeba and other suspects are members of a cult group, while Aleeba is the group’s second-in-command.
“Investigations are underway to apprehend other fleeing members and recover their operational weapons.”
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