Lagos Police Arrest 118 Suspects, Recover Firearms in Major April Crackdown.
Lagos Police Arrest 118 Suspects, Recover Firearms in Major April Crackdown.
Lucky Akra
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 118 suspects and recovered a cache of firearms and other incriminating items during coordinated security operations carried out across the state in April 2026.
Commissioner of Police, Tijani Olayiwola Fatai, disclosed this during a press briefing, highlighting the Command’s intensified intelligence led policing strategy aimed at curbing crimes such as armed robbery, cultism, kidnapping, and vandalism.
According to the police chief, items recovered during the operations include 11 locally fabricated Beretta pistols, one English made Beretta pistol, two Dane guns, nine telecommunications power batteries, cutlasses, a knife, and 21 bags of substances suspected to be Indian hemp.
One of the major breakthroughs occurred on April 27, when police conducted a coordinated raid in the Ilasan, Lekki, and Maroko areas, leading to the arrest of 58 suspects allegedly involved in street crimes and traffic robberies. Authorities said the group had been responsible for phone snatching and violent attacks on residents.
In a separate operation on the same day, two suspected kidnappers were apprehended in Ikorodu over the abduction and killing of a 17 year old victim.
Investigations further linked the suspects to a 2025 kidnapping case in which a ransom of ₦300,000 was paid.
Efforts to combat infrastructure vandalism also yielded results, with three suspects arrested in connection with the theft of telecommunications equipment, following intelligence shared by a telecom company.
Police also reported multiple arrests linked to cult related violence in Iwaya, Lagos Island, Ajao Estate, and Festac, noting that many of the suspects are affiliated with rival confraternities involved in deadly clashes.
In another incident, a 19 year old suspect was arrested on Anthony Bridge while attempting to rob a commuter. Follow up investigations led to the recovery of two locally fabricated pistols.
Additionally, officers intercepted two suspects allegedly involved in the illegal sale of firearms, recovering a Beretta pistol and launching a manhunt for their suspected supplier believed to be based in Kaduna State.
Reaffirming the Command’s commitment to public safety, Fatai said ongoing operations would continue to target criminal networks and curb the proliferation of illegal arms.
He urged residents to support law enforcement efforts by providing timely and credible information, assuring that all arrested suspects would be prosecuted after investigations.
“The Command remains resolute in ensuring that Lagos is safe for all residents. Criminal elements will find no hiding place,” he said.
