MEET FRANK OSHANUGOR
By Frank Oshanugor
Authorities of the Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday paraded 32 crime suspects who allegedly engaged in various crimes including adulteration of product, fabrication of firearms, armed robbery, stealing, cultism etc.
Addressing journalists on behalf of the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Idowu Owohunwa, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin said “from all these cases which we successfully cracked, we recovered a total of fourteen (14) firearms
including a toy gun, seventy-four (74) live cartridges, twelve (12) expended cartridges, twelve (12) long pipes, two drilling machines, one gas cylinder, one vehicle, other fabricated tools, two daggers, one UTC axe, various charms and 251 adulterated wires.
According to him, one Ogbonna Eze aged 27 who disguised himself as a dispatch rider to vandalize vehicles by removing brain boxes and other parts was arrested.
Similarly, on September 11, 2023, at about 1600hrs, based on intelligence on a blacksmith who fabricated firearms for onward sales to criminals around Idata Village of Ibeju-Lekki of Lagos, operatives of the Command busted the factory and arrested a 21-year-old Musiliu Gbenga and Owolabi Azeez aged 22.
A search of the factory led to the recovery of three single-barrel locally-made pistols, one double-barrel locally-made gun, one single-barrel locally-made gun, two single-barrel locally-made long gun, ten expended cartridges, twelve long pipes, two drilling machines, one gas cylinder, one vehicle and other fabricated tools.
The spokesman also told journalists that operatives of the Command have arrested two suspected cultists namely Omotosho Olanrewaju who is 27 years old and Alabi Damilare aged 20.
Similarly, on October 8, 2023, one Quadri Fawas aged 18 was arrested. Investigation revealed the suspects to be members of a cult
group. Few days before their arrest one Modile Juwon aka Number two aged 35 was arrested in connection with cult related activities.
Investigation revealed him to be the second in command of a cult group operating and terrorizing Grammar School area of Ikorodu.
Other suspects arrested for their involvement in illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery, impersonation were similarly paraded. Hundeyin said all suspects would be arraigned at the conclusion of investigation.
He added that in line with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun that all Commands mop up arms
and ammunitions in the hands of non-state actors within their respective jurisdictions, the Lagos State Police Command has called on all persons having illegal possession of arms and ammunition to come forward and submit them without getting arrested or prosecuted.
He assured that meanwhile, the Command would continue the clampdown on the illegal fabrication, sales, possession, and use of prohibited firearms in the state.
