32 suspects held, guns, 43 vehicles recovered

The Lagos State Police Command arrested 32 suspected criminals and recovered five pump-action guns, five locally made pistols, 43 vehicles and N2.5m in cash during operations across the state.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the command’s achievements.
He said officers also recovered 20 live ammunition/cartridges, 15 expended ammunition, two cutlasses, charms, vandalised electrical wires, vehicle spare parts and tools through intelligence-led operations, stop-and-search activities and other crime prevention strategies.
Fatai disclosed that police sergeant Johnson Okediji was killed on September 26 while attempting to stop a fleeing motorist in Egbeda.
“ Officers on stop-and-search duty along Olugbede Street had signaled a Lexus ES 350, driven by 21-year-old Olumide Olusola, to stop. The driver initially complied but allegedly sped off as Okediji approached, knocking him down and dragging him beneath the vehicle for several metres.

“The sergeant sustained multiple fractures and serious head injuries. He was taken to a hospital and later referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Olusola was arrested after a chase, the vehicle recovered, and Okediji’s remains were deposited at the Mainland Hospital Mortuary for preservation and autopsy,” he added.

The Lagos State Police boss revealed that in separate operations, police operatives arrested 32-year-old Ojo Azeez along Oko Oba Road after some suspected hoodlums fled on sighting a patrol team.

He noted that the officers allegedly recovered a locally made cut-to-size pistol, radiator, car jack, engine block and a bag containing vehicle spare parts and tools.

“The command also arrested 29-year-old Ezekiel Sunday Obi over an alleged robbery at Ghost and Spirit Lounge, Ekoro Road, Abule Egba, where a man was reportedly dispossessed of gold jewellery. Obi was arrested at the Toll Gate area of the Lagos-Ogun boundary, while efforts continued to apprehend other gang members” he said.

He explained that one Ogunbayo Abdulwahib was also arrested over an alleged robbery involving suspects who traveled from Idi-Oro, Mushin, to Chevron, Lekki-Ajah.

According to him the suspect 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.

Speaking further, he said the suspects led officer to arrest three other suspected robbers, namely Lekan Jimoh, 32; Oyepeju Olanrewaju, 33; and Olurebi Suleiman, 30, at Idi-Oro.

“Their interrogation allegedly led to the recovery of a pump-action gun and 11 live cartridges from 47-year-old Banjo Taiwo at Igbogbo, Ikorodu. 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” he said.

He said that more than 41 vehicles were impounded during an early-morning operation targeting vehicles with covered number plates and unregistered vehicles.

Fatai said 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.