The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended suspected cultists and kidnappers believed to be behind the unrest in the state. Additionally, the police have captured five suspected kidnappers involved in extorting money from their victims.
Commissioner of Police Adegoke Fayoade, while addressing the press at the command headquarters in Ikeja on Wednesday, revealed that several arms and ammunition were recovered from the suspects.
Fayoade stated, “This pertains to a kidnapping incident on February 20, 2024, where three individuals, one dressed in military attire, abducted a young man in a Honda Salon car and demanded ransom. The victim paid four hundred thousand naira before being handed over to another group who further extorted valuables and demanded a ransom of N6.4 million.”
“The suspects include Zara Onyesom, 28; Abayomi Olalere Ishola, 28; Chima Collins, 29; Oluwasheun Illre, 40; and Ayodabo Muyideen, 38. The case has been filed in court.”
The command also paraded 64 suspects involved in various crimes such as cultism, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, and drug trafficking.
Recovered items include 20 firearms, 120 toy ammunition pieces, 28 live ammunition pieces, 15 live cartridges, three expended cartridges, four vehicles, seven Point of Sale machines, machetes, drugs, and assorted charms.
Fayoade added, “On March 5, 2024, operatives acted on credible intelligence and arrested Jovi Anu, 27; Endurance Ifoma, 30; Bolaji Olaojoyegbe, 25, and Richard Akinde, 27, in connection with cult-related activities. A locally made single-barrel pistol with five live cartridges was seized.”
Furthermore, the command arrested a group of suspected cultists causing disturbances in the Ijanikin and Badagry areas.
“Cognizant of intelligence on the activities of a group suspected to be cult members terrorizing the Ijanikin/Badagry area, police operatives intervened. Segun Sunday, 25; Adeyemi Oyero, 28; Siliki Akeem, 26; Emeka Collins, 36; Lukmon Okedeyi, 26; Oyebola Mustapha, 26; Akinola Omisesan, 34, and Abass Hassan, 35, were apprehended,” Fayoade concluded.
