Lagos Police Deflates Criminal Gangs, Arrests 68 Suspects

*Recovers assorted firearms, N75m worth of stolen vehicles

By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos

In a bold step at asserting its firm control over the security space in Lagos, no fewer than 68 criminal elements were arrested by the Lagos State Police Command within the month of July, 2025.

The suspects were apprehended over varying criminals acts which include murder, grievous harm, armed robbery, robbery, cultism, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, advance fee fraud, kidnapping, vehicle theft, illicit drug offences, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday at the Command Headquarters Ikeja on the breakthroughs, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Olohundare Moshood Jimoh hinted that they were arrested at various locations within the state.

According to him, some of the suspects were involved in advanced fee fraud, car snatching and those trusted with cars but bolted away, dismembered the cars and sols to spear parts dealers in the state.

He said the command had so far recovered four vehicles including a Mercedes bent E350 which he said runs into millions of naira.

” From these cases, we recovered a total of four vehicles; two minibus, an unregistered Toyota Camry, a Toyota RAV 4, and a Mercedes -Benz E350″. “17 firearms, comprising English pistols, Beretta pistol, AK-49, and multiple locally made pistols, a total of 99 rounds of ammunition of various calibers, 19 phones, including a TECNO Spark 20.

” We also recovered six laptops and tables, five identification documents, including naval IDs and a WAEC card; two plate numbers and several other items such as a bulletproof vest, axes, hammers, concrete bricks, broken bottles and POS machines.

” We further recovered scam-related documentation revealing fraudulent transaction worth over N500million, additionally, items of evidential value. All recovered items were properly secured and documented “, he said.

Giving a breakdown of the Arrests, Olohundare said, ” On July 13th, 2025 at about 6.45 p.m., one Ayogu Kelvin of Yaba, reported that unknown persons abducted his son, one Emmanuel, aged 16, collected his ₦2 million, his headset, school bag, and one iPhone 12.

“Based on this report, detectives from the Anti Kidnapping Unit swung into action and traced the suspects and arrested them; namely Joel Francis, 23, Oke Favour, 22, Hosia Josihua, 26, and David Alade, 26, at Ikeja, Jakande, and Makoko areas of Lagos.

“On July 30, 2025, detectives attached to the Command Anti Kidnapping Unit, Surulere, traced to the Ejigbo area of Lagos and arrested one Noble Saint Nwaokoro, 44, Batomi Samson, 48, Abubakar Ali, 47, Eze Emmanuel, 45, Ebe Uzoma, 52, Ikechukwu Ezekwe, 49, and Bitris Ibrahim, 42, who have allegedly been involved in several armed robbery cases, including hijacking fuel tankers and terrorizing Lagos and its environs.”

He pointed out that the suspects usually impersonate security personnel by dressing in security agency camouflage; stressing that the suspects have been charged to court and are awaiting trial.

The Police Commissioner further revealed that on July 16, 2025, following the transfer of a case from Ago-Okota Division, detectives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Lagos State Police Command, arrested four suspects linked to a ₦500 million visa fraud syndicate.

According to him, preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects, staff of an educational consultancy in Ago-Okota, fraudulently obtained over ₦500 million from more than 100 victims under the false pretense of facilitating Canadian and Australian work visas.

“The suspects are in police custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate still at large,” he said.

The Police boss appreciated the federal, Lagos State Governments, I-GP for their supports since he assumed duty in Lagos State.

” I also wish to happily appreciate and commend all public-spirited individuals and Lagosians generally whose timely information and credible intelligence has led to the success for the Command.