The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 39 suspects and recovered 14 locally made pistols, a double-barrel gun, ammunition and other weapons during operations across the state in August.
The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, disclosed this at a news conference at the command headquarters in Ikeja on Thursday.
Tijani said the arrests and recoveries followed intelligence-led operations, stop-and-search exercises, surveillance patrols and credible information.
Other items recovered included vandalised iron materials and cables, a truck loaded with cartons of spaghetti, seven cutlasses, 16 knives, 13 bags of suspected Indian hemp, a POS machine, charms and a laptop.
He said 12 suspects, aged 19 to 32, were arrested on August 17 for vandalising the newly built Coastal Road.
“The suspects were arrested on August 17 with the vandalised iron materials,” he said.
Tijani also said a 28-year-old man was arrested for allegedly vandalising and stealing government-installed CCTV camera cables, iron materials and other infrastructure on the Third Mainland Bridge.
“The suspect confessed to have vandalised and carted away the cables and iron materials, which he sold to scavengers and scrap dealers for about N12,000 per kilogramme. Some quantity of copper wires was recovered from him, while efforts are ongoing to arrest his alleged accomplice and scrap dealers receiving the stolen materials,” he said.
A 22-year-old suspected robber was also arrested during a stop-and-search operation in Aguda, with suspected Indian hemp, a locally made pistol and a cartridge found on him.
“The suspect told investigators that the pistol belonged to his accomplice and led the operatives to a hotel they lodged. A double-barrel gun was also recovered from the room they occupied. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend him and other members of the suspected gang.’’
The CP further disclosed the arrest of suspected cultist “Shifon”, 35, in Aguda, Surulere, with a locally made pistol recovered from his home. Two other suspected cultists, aged 28 and 33, were arrested at an Isolo dumpsite, where a locally made single-barrel pistol was recovered. They are helping investigators identify other members.
Police also arrested a trailer driver after information that a goods-laden trailer was parked before a church in Egbeda while mini-trucks evacuated goods. An Acura SUV allegedly used by a fleeing suspect was recovered, while cartons of spaghetti were found in the trailer. One fleeing suspect was later arrested, with investigations ongoing to identify the goods’ owners and destination.
Three suspected cultists, aged 33, 38 and 42, were arrested in Ijeshatedo after about 50 people gathered there.
“Intelligence indicated that the gathering involved suspected Eiye Confraternity members, who allegedly assembled to mark their annual celebration and initiate new members, two cutlasses and a battle axe were recovered” he said.
Two suspected armed robbers, aged 19 and 25, were also arrested after information that they were using firearms to rob residents. Two locally made pistols were recovered.
Tijani said the operations were part of the command’s ongoing mop-up of illegal firearms and dangerous weapons. He praised officers for their professionalism and dedication, while thanking residents, community leaders, government agencies and other stakeholders for providing timely and credible information.
