Lagos State Police Command has paraded 118 suspects arrested across various parts of the state for alleged involvement in cultism, armed robbery, murder, kidnapping, vandalism, illegal possession of firearms, street violence, and other criminal activities. The arrests, carried out through coordinated intelligence-led operations, took place on April 27, 2026, and in subsequent raids across high-crime areas including Ilasan, Lekki, Maroko, Iwaya, Lagos Island, Ikeja, and Ikorodu. Commissioner of Police Fatai Tijani addressed journalists during the parade, emphasizing that the operations targeted known crime hotspots and were part of a broader strategy to restore peace and security in the state.
Among the suspects paraded was 38-year-old Emmanuel Ogbu, who confessed to returning to cult activities after serving a jail term in 2018 for similar offences. His case highlights a growing concern over recidivism among former inmates, a pattern police say they are actively tracking. The 58 suspects arrested in the Lekki axis were linked to street violence, phone snatching, armed attacks, and harassment of residents, particularly around busy traffic corridors. Police stated that these groups operated in coordinated teams, ambushing unsuspecting victims and stealing mobile phones and valuables before escaping.
Items recovered from the suspects include 11 locally fabricated Beretta pistols, one cut-to-size pistol, one standard Beretta pistol, two Dane guns, nine telecom power batteries, four cutlasses, one knife, 21 bags of suspected Indian hemp, assorted charms, and other incriminating exhibits. In a separate incident, two suspects—23-year-old Elijah Emmanuel and 21-year-old Tony Ekwane Oghanetega—were arrested in connection with the abduction and killing of 17-year-old Thomson Omokhafe Adams on April 22, 2026, in the Lucy Fibre area of Ikorodu. Interrogation further linked them to another kidnapping and murder case on November 30, 2025, where a female victim was killed after a ransom of N300,000 was collected.
The police also revealed an ongoing investigation into the theft of over 650 telecom power assets between 2025 and 2026. This probe led to the arrest of Orji Emeka in Ikeja, who directed officers to Alausa, where Obiagwu Kingsley was apprehended. Another suspect, Oluwatosin Sani, was arrested in Gbogbo, Ikorodu, with nine telecom power batteries recovered from him. Additionally, eight suspected cultists were arrested during a raid in Iwaya on April 22, 2026, while 20 others were apprehended in Lagos Island on April 20, 2026, for cult-related violence and armed robbery.
The suspects are believed to be members of rival confraternities, including the Aiye and Eiye groups, which have been involved in violent clashes and attacks in April. Commissioner Tijani confirmed that investigations are ongoing and assured that all suspects will be charged to court following completion of interrogations and forensic analysis. The arrests underscore the police’s commitment to cracking down on organized crime and restoring public confidence in security across Lagos. These operations are expected to serve as a deterrent to others involved in similar criminal networks.
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