The Lagos State Police Command has paraded 118 suspects arrested for offences including cultism, armed robbery, murder, kidnapping, vandalism, unlawful possession of firearms and street violence.
Among those paraded was 38-year-old Emmanuel Ogbu, who admitted returning to cult-related activities after serving a jail term for a similar offence in 2018.
Police said items recovered from the suspects include 11 locally fabricated Beretta pistols, one cut-to-size pistol, one Beretta pistol, two Dane guns, nine telecom power batteries, four cutlasses, one knife, 21 bags of Indian hemp, assorted charms and other incriminating materials.
On April 27, 2026, at about 6:30 p.m., operatives carried out coordinated operations across Ilasan, Lekki and Maroko, leading to the arrest of 58 suspects linked to street crimes, traffic robbery and harassment of residents. The suspects are alleged to have engaged in phone snatching, armed attacks and intimidation within the Lekki corridor. Police said investigations are ongoing and the suspects will be charged in court.
On the same day, operatives arrested 23-year-old Elijah Emmanuel and 21-year-old Tony Ekwane Oghanetega in connection with a kidnapping at the Lucy Fibre area of Ikorodu.
The suspects are alleged to have kidnapped and killed 17-year-old Thomson Omokhafe Adams on April 22, 2026. Police added that further interrogation linked the suspects to another abduction and killing of a female victim on November 30, 2025, after collecting a ransom of N300,000.
Briefing journalists, the Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, said investigations into the theft of more than 650 telecom power assets between 2025 and 2026 led to the arrest of Orji Emeka in Ikeja. The suspect reportedly led operatives to Alausa, where Obiagwu Kingsley was arrested, while another suspect, Oluwatosin Sani, was apprehended in the Gbogbo area of Ikorodu, where nine telecom power batteries were recovered.
The command also said it arrested eight suspected cultists during a crackdown in Iwaya on April 22, 2026, and 20 suspects linked to cultism and armed robbery on Lagos Island on April 20, 2026. The suspects are believed to be members of the Aiye and Eiye confraternities and were allegedly involved in violent attacks recorded on April 10, 2026.
In a separate operation, police arrested 20-year-old Mustapha Mohammed and 20-year-old Sanusi Musa over alleged unlawful possession and attempted sale of a firearm. Mohammed, a truck conductor operating between Kaduna and Lagos, was said to have contacted Musa to source a buyer. A Beretta pistol was recovered, while the suspects identified one Umaru Naeem, based in Kaduna State, as the owner. Police said efforts are ongoing to arrest the suspect.
Fatai said the operations demonstrate the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and assured residents that criminal elements would not find a haven in the state. He added that all suspects would be charged in court after investigations are concluded.
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