Breaking: Lagos Police Nab Over 50 Cultists, Armed Robbers, Recover 82 Firearms, 106 Stolen Vehicles
By Raheem Ibrahim
Over fifty suspected cultists and armed robbers have been apprehended by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command, along with the recovery of over 82 firearms from the criminals.
Recording significant breakthroughs in its ongoing efforts to combat crime across the state, the command also recovered over 106 stolen vehicles that were about to be smuggled out of the country through various borders.
Disclosing this at a press briefing held at the command headquarters in Ikeja on Wednesday, the Commissioner of Police, CP Moshood Olorundare Jimoh, highlighted major achievements since assuming office earlier this year. He described the recovery of 36 exotic stolen vehicles—many either snatched from other parts of the country or acquired through fraudulent means—as a major milestone.
According to him, some of the recovered vehicles were on the verge of being smuggled out of Nigeria via Lagos borders, while an additional 70 vehicles are currently under investigation.
He said, “In addition to the vehicle recoveries, the command has seized over 82 firearms and arrested more than 50 suspected cultists, including Wasiu Akiwande a.k.a Olu Riasho, who confessed to owning multiple AK-47 rifles and is linked to several homicides.”
While emphasizing that the use of fabricated weapons carries serious legal consequences under Nigerian law, CP Jimoh stated that the suspects would face charges ranging from unlawful association to murder, assault, and breach of public peace.
While displaying the recovered firearms, the Police boss also showcased toy guns that closely resemble real ones, often used by criminals to commit robberies and instill public fear.
He acknowledged the critical role of community support, stating that timely intelligence provided by Lagosians helped his officers achieve the milestone within a short time.
He also commended the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for logistics and operational support, which has helped reduce police response time to under five minutes.
To consolidate these gains, CP Jimoh revealed that Anti-Cultism Squads have been deployed across all 14 Area Commands, alongside the establishment of a Local Strike Force—now expanded to nine teams—to swiftly respond to security threats in flashpoint areas.
He reassured residents, visitors, and business owners that the state remains safe and conducive for lawful business without fear of harassment by criminal elements.
“Lagos is safe and secure. We are leaving no stone unturned in our resolve to make the state hostile for criminals. Everyone is encouraged to go about their lawful activities without fear,” he said.
On the recovered vehicles, the Police boss urged residents who have lost cars to visit the command headquarters for identification and possible recovery.
