The Lagos State Police Command has announced a major breakthrough in its fight against crime, arresting 68 suspects for various offences and recovering firearms, stolen vehicles, and millions of naira linked to a high-profile visa fraud scheme.
Commissioner of Police, CP Olohondare Jimoh, disclosed the details during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja, on Monday, highlighting that the arrests were the result of new crime prevention strategies and increased operational support from the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to the CP, the suspects were apprehended for offences including murder, armed robbery, cultism, kidnapping, unlawful possession of firearms, fraud, and drug-related crimes. Recoveries made during the period include four vehicles — two minibuses, an unregistered Toyota Camry, a Toyota RAV4, and a Mercedes-Benz E350 — 17 firearms (including AK-49 rifles, Beretta pistols, and locally made guns), 99 rounds of ammunition, laptops, phones, identification cards, a bulletproof vest, and POS machines.
The Command also ensured peaceful and incident-free conduct of the July 12 local government elections across Lagos State through a comprehensive security framework involving police, the military, and other agencies. There were no major crimes recorded during the exercise.
Among the notable arrests was the dismantling of an armed robbery gang that operated while impersonating security operatives. On July 30, seven suspects, including 44-year-old Noble Saint Masokoro, were arrested in the Ajigbo area for hijacking fuel tankers and terrorising motorists while dressed in security agency camouflage. They have since been charged to court.
In another major breakthrough, detectives on July 16 arrested four staff members of an educational consultancy in Ago-Okota for allegedly defrauding over 180 victims of ₦588 million under the guise of facilitating Canadian and Australian work visas. The suspects, identified as Blessing Wefsutu, 27; Chineye Christian, 36; Archibong Udeme, 23; and Maurine Peter, 25, remain in custody while efforts continue to track down other members of the syndicate still at large.
On July 17, operatives arrested 18-year-old gang leader Chinedu Tamanuel in Ogun State for posing as a driver to steal vehicles. He would then hand them over to his accomplices to be dismantled and sold for parts. The suspect led police to another member of the gang and the Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market, where the stolen car was confirmed to have been stripped.
The Command also recorded success against a notorious “one chance” syndicate on July 18, when operatives intercepted a commercial minibus along Agege Motor Road after a female passenger raised an alarm. Three suspects, including a wanted gang leader, were arrested with weapons such as an axe, concrete blocks, and heavy stones.
On July 22, two men, Heron Giriki, 21, and Dikon Joshua, 35, were caught in the act of robbing passengers along Ikorodu Road, Mile 12. Similarly, on August 1, dismissed security operative Samson Dyewale Lawoo was arrested in connection with the abduction of a victim and the theft of ₦5 million. Items recovered from him included a Toyota RAV4, a bulletproof vest, POS machines, and fake security IDs.
READ ALSO:
Obi’s Supporters Won’t Let Him Quit after 1 Term – PDP Chieftain
Police Extends Tinted Glass Enforcement to October 2
Other significant recoveries within the month include a stolen Toyota Camry snatched by an ex-convict, a 2021 Lexus hybrid SUV valued at over ₦75 million suspected to have been stolen abroad and brought into Nigeria without import papers, and a Suzuki minibus used for “one chance” operations with five suspects apprehended.
The Commissioner assured Lagos residents that the Command will sustain its aggressive operations to make the state unsafe for criminals. He urged the public to continue providing credible intelligence to the police to support ongoing efforts at crime prevention and control.
