Thirty-two suspects were on Tuesday paraded at the Lagos State Police Command Ikeja for engaging in varying crimes including adulteration of products, fabrication of firearms, armed robbery, stealing and cultism.
Parading the suspects, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesperson Lagos State police Command said: “Twenty-five firearms including a toy gun, seventy-four live cartridges, twelve expended cartridges, twelve long pipes, two drilling machines, one gas cylinder, one vehicle, other fabricated tools, two daggers, one UTC axe, various charms and 251 adulterated wires were recovered from the suspects.
Explaining further, Hundeyin said: “On October 11, 2023, at about 11:45 PM intelligence report gathered revealed that a wanted notorious and deadly cultist known as ‘SKIPO’ who was involved in the killing of a rival cultist was spotted in a hideout in Yaba area of Lagos State.
Immediately, police operatives attached to the Command swung into action and arrested one Ganiu Yusuf aka Skipo aged 23, in possession of two.9mm ammunition. Further investigation led to the arrest of Ikuologbon Tobi aka Iku aged 23, Salaudeen Azeez aged 27, Sanni Jamiu aka J-boy aged 26, Ganiu Muideen aka Stone aged 23, Odinaka Ojiakor aged 26 and Farouk Muibi aka Ozil aged 22 in different areas of the state in possession of two locally made single barrel guns, one double barrel shotgun, three live cartridges, one dagger and different charms. Investigation revealed that they are all cult members.”
In a related development, “On September 11, 2023, at about 4 PM based on actionable intelligence on a blacksmith who fabricated firearms for onward sales to criminals around Idata Village of Ibeju-Lekki, operatives of the Command busted the factory and arrested two suspects identified as Musiliu Gbenga aged 21 and Owolabi Azeez aged 22.
“Three single-barrel locally-made pistols, one double-barrel locally-made gun, one single-barrel locally-made gun, two single-barrel locally-made long guns, ten expended cartridges, twelve long pipes, two drilling machines, one gas cylinder, one vehicle and other fabricated tools were among the items recovered from the factory.”