The Lagos State Police Command has stepped up intelligence-led operations against criminal networks across the state, leading to the arrest of 80 suspects and the recovery of firearms, vehicles, ammunition and suspected illicit drugs.
The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Ikeja.
Tijani said the operations, carried out between October 1 and 7, targeted suspected perpetrators of armed robbery, vandalism, traffic robbery, recruitment fraud, vehicle theft and other criminal activities.
Among the recovered items were four Beretta pistols, eight locally fabricated pistols, four rounds of live 9mm ammunition, six vehicles, six mobile phones, six battle axes, four cutlasses, a toy gun and five sacks of suspected illicit drugs.
The commissioner said nine suspects were arrested in connection with alleged vandalism along the Coastal Road, while 19 others were apprehended in Tori-Lovi Community, Age-Mowo, over an alleged fraudulent recruitment scheme.
Another 29 suspects were arrested during operations targeting alleged traffic robbers along the Lekki-Epe axis.
Tijani also disclosed the arrest of a 43-year-old suspected receiver of stolen vehicles at Ishawo Agric, Ikorodu.
Four vehicles and seven number plates were recovered from the suspect, including a Lexus RX 330 Jeep, a 2018 Toyota Camry, a 1999 Toyota Camry and a Ford vehicle.
In Maroko, 14 suspects were arrested over alleged public nuisance, while police also apprehended a suspected gang leader in connection with the October 4 attack on a military officer and his family in Itire.
The suspects allegedly blocked the family’s vehicle, assaulted the officer and his wife, stole N300,000 and vandalised the vehicle.
The command also arrested a 28-year-old suspect accused of drugging a woman at her Ikeja residence before allegedly stealing three mobile phones valued at N3.02 million.
Tijani said other operations resulted in arrests linked to alleged armed robbery, phone snatching and vehicle theft, with additional stolen property recovered.
The commissioner said the results demonstrated the command’s commitment to proactive policing and the use of intelligence to disrupt criminal activities before they escalate.
He called on residents to support the police by providing credible information on suspicious activities and criminal networks in their communities.
Tijani assured Lagos residents that the command would sustain its operations to dismantle criminal networks and safeguard lives and property across the state.
