By DEBORAH AKPEDE

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have apprehended 68 suspected criminals in one month for offences including armed robbery, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, confirmed this while briefing journalists at the command?s headquarters in Ikeja on Monday.

He said the command recovered four vehicles and 17 firearms, including English pistols, a Beretta pistol, an AK-49, locally made pistols and 99 rounds of assorted ammunition.

Other items recovered were 19 phones, six laptops, tablets and various other exhibits.

Among those arrested were seven armed robbery suspects who impersonated security personnel.

?On July 30, detectives attached to the Command Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Surulere, apprehended the suspects aged between 42 and 49, involved in several armed robbery cases,? he said.

According to him, their crimes included hijacking fuel tankers and terrorising Lagos and neighbouring states.

?The suspects impersonated security personnel by wearing camouflage uniforms of security agencies,? he added.

CP Jimoh said the police also arrested two suspects specialising in car theft.

?On July 17, in the Ogijo area of Ogun, operatives tracked and apprehended a 30-year-old leader of a car-stealing syndicate,? he said.

The suspects allegedly deceived vehicle owners into employing them as drivers, later absconding with the vehicles, dismantling them, and selling the parts.

The suspect led operatives to Iba, Lagos, where another member, aged 39, was arrested.

He further led the team to Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market, where the stolen vehicle had been dismantled and sold as parts.

The commissioner said a ?one-chance? robbery kingpin was also arrested, and a vehicle recovered.

?On July 18, operatives of Ikeja Division intercepted a commercial minibus along Agege Motor Road after a female commuter raised an alarm,? he said.

The victim was reportedly pushed out of the moving bus.

Three suspects, aged 20, 22 and 53, were apprehended.

A search of the vehicle yielded one Tecno Spark phone, 20 other smartphones, an axe, two interlock bricks, several heavy stones, and a broken bottle.

These items were suspected to have been used in previous assaults.

Preliminary investigations revealed the suspects lured victims by posing as commercial transporters and attacking them in isolated locations.

The police boss added that two suspected robbers were also arrested.

?On July 22, policemen attached to Ketu Division arrested the suspects, aged 21 and 35, during patrol along Ikorodu Road, Mile 12,? he said.

He stated that investigations are ongoing and all suspects will be charged to court upon completion.

Jimoh appreciated the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, for providing modern crime-fighting equipment, technology and logistics.

He also thanked Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for continuous operational support, which had made securing the state much easier. (NAN)

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