.Recover Assorted Arms, Ammunition, Others
The Lagos State Police Command led by the Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, has disclosed how his operatives swoop on men of the underworld, saying the command had remained resolute and unwavering in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents of Lagos State through proactive policing, intelligence-led operations, strategic crime prevention mechanisms, and swift operational responses to criminal activities across the State.
This followed the swooping on criminals by the operatives of the Command, leading to foiling of kidnapping operation in the State, arresting of 10 suspected criminals, including armed robbery suspects, neutralising of four kidnapers during exchange of gun fire, recovering of arms and ammunition amongst others.
CP Fatai who disclosed this in Lagos during a press briefing said that in line with this mandate, “the Command recorded significant operational breakthroughs within the month of May 2026, resulting in the foiling of kidnapping attempts, arrest of criminal suspects involved in armed robbery, cultism, stealing, conspiracy, and unlawful possession of firearms, as well as the recovery of arms, ammunition, stolen vehicles, and large sum of money linked to criminal activities.”
These operational achievements, according to the Lagos State Police boss further demonstrated the Command’s determination to rid Lagos State of criminal elements and sustain public confidence in policing.
He said that within the period under review, the command arrested ten suspects and recovered double barrel pump action, three AK-47 rifles, two SMG; one revolver and short pistol.
Other recovered items are one fabricated pistol, three locally made pistol; six magazines, 42 live ammunition, one dummy gun, one TVS motorcycle , one axe and other items used as weapons.
The CP while giving summary of some of the major cases recorded during the period under review that on May 24, 2026, at about 9.30 pm, following credible intelligence received and monitored by operatives of the Command, foiled a kidnap attempt by a nefarious kidnapping gang targeted on a businessman at Jakande Estate Gate, in Ejigbo Area of Lagos.
He said the dreaded group specializes in targeting wealthy businessmen, storms in Lagos in order to carry out heinous crimes on the unsuspected persons.
He further disclosed that on the strength of the information, operatives monitored the intelligence dutifully as the gang was going to strike a popular business owner.
He said that additional information had it that, the leader of this gang named Ifeanyi (make) a.k.a Ifeko was the one who trained one Henry Asoona (m) another gang leader of the billionaire kidnappers that were earlier neutralized in Ladipo International Spare Parts Market in Lagos in 2024.
Ifeanyi a.k.a Ifeco, according to the CP was also said to be based abroad, but came down to Lagos to perpetrate criminal act in Lagos.
“Based on the foregoing, operatives swung into action and moved to the scene, and the gang on sighting the police opened fire and engaged the operatives in a gun duel. The operatives responded with superior firepower, leading to the neutralisation of four members of the gang, while one suspect escaped with bullet wounds. The exhibits recovered from the scene include: One Toyota Sienna vehicle, one AK-47 rifle with two magazines and 25 rounds of live ammunition; one SMG rifle with one magazine loaded with 12 rounds of live ammunition, one Toyota Corolla key and one Lexus vehicle key .”
Meanwhile, an Inspector of Police, according to CP Fatai, sustained gunshot injury on his left leg during the exchange of fire and was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he is currently responding to treatment, adding that investigation was ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect and other accomplices connected to the gang.
On May 24, 2026, at about 5.30 am, according to the CP, operatives of the Command arrested one Akintayo Wasiu a 57-year-old man in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The suspect was nabbed while in possession of a stolen Toyota Hiace Space Bus.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, who was employed as the driver of the vehicle, allegedly stole the bus and relocated to Ibadan, where he changed the vehicle documents, and also changed his phone number in an attempt to evade arrest.
“Following intensive tracking and investigation, the suspect was apprehended in Ibadan with the stolen vehicle in his possession. During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime.”
On May 23, 2026, the CP said his operatives while acting on intelligence and in a follow-up to an ongoing cultism investigation, stormed a criminal hideout, resident of one Waliu Olaleye, a 31- year-old man said to be an alleged principal leader of the Aiye confraternity group from Igando area of the State.
He said that during a search of his residence in Igando, one locally made double-barrel pistol concealed inside the ceiling of the apartment was recovered.
The suspect, according to the CP had made useful statements which is assisting ongoing investigation, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend fleeing members of the gang.
In another operation, CP Fatai said that sequel to a complaint in a case involving conspiracy and stealing of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) valued at N1.28 billion.
The matter was reported by MEA Energy against one Chibuzor Mogbo (male) and one Jessica Anyincha (female). The CP said operatives of the Command commenced discreet investigation, aided by technical support and intelligence gathering.
“After twelve days of intensive investigation and follow-up operations, one of the principal suspects, Chibuzor Mogbo ‘m’, aged 38 years, was arrested in Delta State, where he fled to. During interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and subsequently led operatives to the recovery of cash and properties worth over Three Hundred Million Naira linked to the criminal act. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the second suspect, Jessica Anyincha, who is currently at large.”
Also on May 19, 2026, at about 10pm; the CP disclosed that one Abubakar (male) reported that his brother, Adamu Abdullahi, a scrap iron dealer, was missing.
‘During investigation, a video later surfaced showing the purported victim being beaten with planks and threatened with death if a ransom of N1,500,000 was not paid by his employer. However, upon careful analysis of the video and subsequent investigation, detectives observed inconsistencies, as there were no visible signs of physical assault on the alleged victim after his return home. The suspect was subjected to further interrogation and eventually confessed that the kidnapping was staged in collaboration with one Adelowo Olalekan Akorede, a 35-year-old, one Yusuf Lukman, 39- year-old; and another accomplice currently at large. Investigation further revealed that the suspects intended to fraudulently obtain money from the victim’s employer, one Lawal Abubakar, who regularly entrusted him with funds for scrap iron business transactions. The suspect also confessed that the sum of N490,000 previously entrusted to him for business purposes had been diverted. The said amount was recovered, while the workshop used for recording the fake kidnapping video was visited during the investigation. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing accomplice,” CP Fatai assured.
Also, on May 25, 2026, at about 11p.m., operatives of the Command, according to the CP responded to a distress call received from members of the public at Odunsi Street, Bariga, Lagos.
The callers reported that two suspicious men were sighted at Arobadade Street, Bariga, attempting to remove a Toyota Sienna vehicle from where it was parked.
He said that based on the report, Police operatives swiftly mobilized to the scene, leading to the arrest of one Achepa Solomon (male) of no fixed address and one Ihezie Francis (m), a mechanic who resides in Oworonshoki, Lagos.
Further investigation, according to the CP led to the recovery of one Honda i-VTEC saloon car with registration number ABC 775 LD from the suspects, adding that the suspects are currently in Police custody, and that the case would be charged to court on completion of investigations
On May 18, 2026 at about 12 noon the CP said operatives, while on routine stop and search duty along Fakoya Street, Shasha intercepted a Toyota Corolla with registration number FST 542 GY driven by one Ejiro Abiriofor (M).
He said that upon a search conducted on the suspect and the vehicle, one Taiwanese-made revolver pistol loaded with four live ammunition and one knife were recovered, noting that the Toyota Corolla vehicle was also recovered as exhibit.
On May 24, 2026, at about 2 a.m, operatives according to the CP responded to reports of hoodlums on a motorcycle who robbing residents within Ikola and its environs.
He said that on sighting them, the three suspects riding on a TVS motorcycle with registration number EKY 732 QP fled the scene, and abandoned the motorcycle.
“A search conducted on the motorcycle led to the recovery of one locally fabricated Beretta pistol concealed on it. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.”
The CP in conclusion emphasised that the successes recorded by the Lagos State Police Command within the month of May further underscored the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing, proactive crime prevention strategies, and the unwavering commitment of officers and men of the Command towards safeguarding lives and property across Lagos State.
“The Command wishes to assure all Lagosians that there will be no hiding place for criminal elements within the state. We therefore encourage members of the public to continue supporting the Police with timely and credible information that will aid crime prevention, prompt response, and effective law enforcement. All suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.” CP Fatai assured.
