In a sweeping crackdown on violent crime and fraud, the Lagos State Police Command has arrested 68 suspects and seized a cache of weapons, stolen vehicles, and illicit proceeds worth hundreds of millions of naira.
Commissioner of Police CP Olohundare Moshood Jimoh revealed the breakthrough on Monday during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja, highlighting the results of his first month in office under a fresh anti-crime strategy.
“Our mission is clear, keep Lagos safe, protect lives and property, and make our city a haven for business without fear of crime,” CP Jimoh declared, crediting the success to robust support from Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. With new equipment and technology, police now boast a five-minute average response time to distress calls
The four-week blitz netted:
4 vehicles, including a Toyota RAV4, Mercedes-Benz E350, and two minibuses
17 firearms, from pistols to an AK-49 assault rifle
99 rounds of ammunition
19 mobile phones and 6 laptops/tablets
₦500 million in scam-linked documents and POS machines
Bulletproof vests, axes, hammers, fake IDs, and other tools of crime
Major Breakthroughs
1. Election Security, Peaceful local government polls on July 12 with tight security at all 13,325 polling units.
2. Kidnap Rescue. A 16-year-old boy freed in Yaba; four suspects arrested.
3. Fake Security Robbers, Seven men caught hijacking fuel tankers in Ejigbo.
4. ₦500m Visa Fraud, Four staff of an educational consultancy busted for duping over 100 victims.
5. Car Theft Syndicate, Hired drivers stealing cars for parts markets in Ladipo.
6. One-Chance Kingpin, Robbery leader nabbed in Ikeja with weapons and stolen RAV4.
7. High-Value Recoveries, Lexus 2021 hybrid SUV worth ₦75m recovered, suspected stolen overseas.
CP Jimoh vowed that the offensive against crime will intensify:
We will not relent. With timely intelligence from the public, we will make Lagos one of the safest cities in Africa.