Odita Sunday 
118 Suspects Nabbed, Weapons Recovered As Lagos Police Tighten Grip On Crime
By Odita Sunday
The Lagos State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on criminal networks, arresting no fewer than 118 suspects and recovering a cache of arms, illicit substances, and stolen assets in a sweeping April offensive aimed at restoring public safety across the state.
Speaking during a press briefing, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Olayiwola Fatai, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to proactive, intelligence-led policing, noting that the operations targeted armed robbery, cultism, kidnapping, vandalism, and other violent crimes.
CP Fatai disclosed that the month-long operations led to the recovery of 11 locally fabricated Beretta pistols, one English Beretta pistol, dane guns, telecom power batteries, cutlasses, knives, and 21 bags of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, alongside other incriminating items.
A major highlight of the operations was the coordinated raid of criminal hideouts in Ilasan, Lekki, and Maroko, where 58 suspects linked to street crimes and traffic robbery were apprehended. The suspects were accused of terrorising residents through phone snatching, armed attacks, and intimidation within the Lekki corridor.
In a separate breakthrough, police operatives arrested two suspected kidnappers in Ikorodu linked to the abduction and killing of a 17-year-old victim. Investigations further revealed the suspects’ involvement in an earlier kidnapping incident in 2025, where a ransom of ₦300,000 was collected before the victim was murdered.
The Command also recorded success in dismantling a telecom vandalism syndicate following intelligence from Globacom Nigeria. Three suspects were arrested, and nine stolen telecom power batteries were recovered in operations spanning Ikeja, Alausa, and Ikorodu.
Crackdowns on cult-related activities across Iwaya, Lagos Island, Ajao Estate, and Festac led to multiple arrests, including suspected members of rival confraternities linked to violent clashes and killings. In one instance, detectives apprehended suspects connected to the murder of a young man in Ilasan, with further efforts ongoing to track fleeing accomplices.
Additionally, swift police response led to the arrest of a suspected armed robber at Ayetoro Bus Stop and another at Anthony Bridge, where locally fabricated pistols were recovered.
Two suspected gun runners were also intercepted while attempting to sell a firearm, with investigations pointing to a supplier based in Kaduna State.
The Command further noted that ongoing operations have resulted in the recovery of illegal firearms, ammunition, and vehicles used in criminal activities, reinforcing its determination to dismantle organised crime networks.
Reassuring residents, CP Fatai emphasised that Lagos would remain hostile to criminal elements, urging the public to support law enforcement agencies with timely and credible information.
He added that all suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
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