Police Arrest 21 Armed Robbers, 10 Cultists, Recover Seven Guns in Lagos

In continuation of its onslaught to curtail criminal activities in Lagos State, the state police command yesterday said its operatives have arrested 21 armed robbers and 10 cultists, just as it recovered five guns from the suspects.

The state acting Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, who made this disclosure, said the breakdown of recovered arms and ammunition include five locally made pistols, one locally made cut to size double barrel pistol, one berretta pistol, four live cartridges and two rounds of live ammunition.

Imohim at a press conference held at the command headquarters in Ikeja, while further breaking down the arrests recorded, said one Kola Bakare was arrested for masterminding the robbery of a commuter, which had hitherto been blamed on a police sergeant, Williams Godwin.

The suspect was said to have driven the operational vehicle, a Toyota Camry saloon car with registration number of EPE813BX, for the operation.

Although the other gang members are now on the run following the arrest of the suspect, Imohimi said a manhunt has been launched to arrest them.

Also, the command has cracked the mystery behind the murder of one Emmanuel Uba Owan, whose brutal death occurred at FESTAC Town by some hitherto unknown gunmen.

After the case was referred to the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team, they swung into action and arrested the principal suspect, Fatai Onifade aka Apashe.

Led by IRT Lagos Commander, Philip Rieniwa, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, the 41-year-old suspect was arrested and some guns and ammunition where recovered from him.

According to the CP, one berretta pistol, one pump action gun, two rounds of live ammunition were recovered from his possession.

While admitting his participation in cultism, the suspect said the murder was motivated by hate and nothing else.

The suspect also led the police to the location of their hideout which led to the arrest of 34-year-old Michael Fashola; 31-year-old Mufutau Tokosi aka TK and 41-year-old Kolawole Adeleye aka Baido.

In another development, operatives of the Special Anti-robber Squad (SARS) mobilised and arrested one Yahaya Hammed aka Omonla, a member of a robbery syndicate who terrorised the Lekki/Ajah axis.

The suspect led the SARS operatives to their hideouts at Okoya Street, Ajegunle, Lagos, and Egan road, Akesan, to arrest the ringleaders, Martins Lawrence and Femi Taiwo.

The duo had three locally made pistols in their possession and they confessed to have used it to attach and rob innocent citizens.

Also, 10 suspected cultists were caught after an operation at Egbe, where they robbed innocent citizens of their valuables.

The CP, who also confirmed the arrests, said the suspects would be charged to court alongside the recovered pistol, knife and bag containing weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.