Police Arrest 68 Suspected Criminals in Lagos in One Month

The Lagos State Police Command says it has arrested 68 suspected criminals in the past month for various offences, including armed robbery, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of firearms.

Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Ikeja.

According to him, operatives recovered 17 firearms — among them English pistols, a Beretta pistol, an AK-49, locally made pistols — along with 99 rounds of assorted ammunition, four vehicles, 19 mobile phones, six laptops, tablets, and other exhibits.

Among those arrested were seven suspected armed robbers, aged between 42 and 49, who allegedly impersonated security personnel by wearing camouflage uniforms. Jimoh said they were linked to several cases of tanker hijacking and violent attacks in Lagos and neighbouring states.

The police chief also confirmed the arrest of two suspected car thieves. One of them, a 30-year-old syndicate leader, was tracked to Ogijo, Ogun State, and later led operatives to Iba, Lagos, where another member was arrested. Investigations revealed the gang posed as drivers, stole vehicles from their employers, dismantled them, and sold the parts at the Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market.

In another operation on July 18, officers from Ikeja Division intercepted a commercial bus on Agege Motor Road after a female passenger raised an alarm. She had reportedly been pushed out of the moving vehicle. Three suspects — aged 20, 22, and 53 — were arrested, and a search of the bus uncovered a Tecno Spark phone, 20 other mobile phones, an axe, heavy stones, interlock bricks, and a broken bottle, believed to be weapons used in previous attacks.

Two more suspects were arrested on July 22 by Ketu Division patrol teams along Ikorodu Road, Mile 12, in connection with robbery activities.

Jimoh assured that all suspects will be charged to court once investigations are concluded, while expressing appreciation to Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for equipping the command with modern crime-fighting tools, and to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for ongoing operational support.