An 18-year-old suspect arrested while attempting to collect a N20 million ransom was among 47 persons nabbed by the Lagos State Police Command in operations across the state.
Commissioner
of Police Tijani Fatai made this known during a press conference at the Command
Headquarters, Ikeja, where exhibits recovered from various crime scenes were
displayed.
The
arrests, he said, were linked to offences including armed robbery, cultism,
conspiracy, stealing, threat to life and unlawful possession of firearms.
CP
Fatai added that the Command recorded a hitch-free Easter celebration, with no
major security breach, attributing the development to proactive deployment of
personnel and collaboration with other security agencies and residents.
According
to him, items recovered during the operations include 14 firearms, comprising
10 locally made guns and four pump-action rifles, 96 rounds of 5.2mm
ammunition, 29 live cartridges and one expended cartridge, 14 vehicles, two
laptops, 29 mobile phones and a flash drive.
Giving
details of the suspect, Fatai said the teenager, identified as Israel Osanwuta,
was arrested on March 27 during a decoy following a complaint from Ojokoro
Local Council Development Area over threat to life and demand for N20 million.
“He
was apprehended about 10:55pm while attempting to collect the ransom. Recovered
from him were an HP laptop and a flash drive. The suspect has confessed to the
crime and admitted involvement in a previous attempted burglary at a commercial
bank,” the CP said.
In
another operation, police arrested a suspected armed robber, Jamiu Yahaya, also
known as “Elesin,” in Amukoko. A local pistol, two live cartridges and charms
were recovered from him.
A
23-year-old suspected cultist, Sunday Daniel, was also arrested in Ajegunle,
with a local pistol recovered. The suspect allegedly confessed to being a
member of the Aiye confraternity.
Fatai
further said 21 suspected cultists were apprehended at a hotel in Ajao Estate
during a birthday gathering for a wanted gang member known as “Actor,” who is
at large. Recovered items include a cut-to-size gun, cult-branded items, a
laptop and 23 mobile phones.
The
commissioner also disclosed the arrest of five members of a car theft
syndicate, with a Toyota Sienna and Toyota Camry recovered, as well as three
suspects involved in vehicle vandalisation.
He
said a suspect, Adedayo Bello, 52, was arrested for allegedly concealing a
firearm and ammunition inside a pillow, with 96 rounds of ammunition recovered.
Fatai
added that three suspects linked to the vandalisation of vehicles in a Lekki
estate were arrested, while four others were nabbed in connection with armed
robbery in Ikotun and Egbeda.
He
also announced the arrest of a 62-year-old alleged serial fraudster, Robert
Smith, accused of defrauding a microfinance bank of N130 million. Six vehicles
valued at over N520 million were recovered from him.
Other
arrests were made in Iba, Egbin, Ogba and Ifako-Ijaiye, where suspected robbers
and cultists were apprehended, alongside the recovery of illicit drugs and
additional firearms.
Fatai
said all suspects would be charged to court after investigations
He
reiterated the Command’s commitment to sustaining the fight against crime and
urged the public to remain vigilant and continue to provide credible
information to the police.
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