The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, yesterday revealed how four suspected kidnappers neutralised at Jakande Gate in the Ejigbo area, allegedly spent four days in the state finalising plans before launching an attack on May 24, 2026.

Fatai disclosed this while presenting the command’s operational breakthroughs for May 2026, including the foiling of kidnapping attempts, arrest of armed robbery and cultism suspects, recovery of stolen vehicles, firearms, ammunition and cash linked to criminal activities.

Speaking on the kidnapping incident, the Police Commissioner said the gang specialised in targeting wealthy businessmen and usually entered Lagos to carry out attacks on unsuspecting victims.

According to him, police operatives received intelligence that the gang was planning to strike and abduct a prominent businessman.

He further disclosed that additional intelligence linked the gang leader identified as Ifeanyi, also known as “Ifeko,” to the training of one Henry Asoona, alleged leader of the billionaire kidnappers earlier neutralised at the Ladipo International Spare Parts Market in 2024.

Fatai said Ifeanyi, who is reportedly based abroad, came to Lagos alongside gang members from the South-East to carry out the operation. He stated that police operatives responded with superior firepower, resulting in the death of four gang members, while another suspect escaped with bullet wounds.

The Commissioner added that within the period under review, the command arrested 10 suspects and recovered double-barrel pump-action guns, three AK-47 rifles, two submachine guns, a revolver, a short pistol, one fabricated pistol, three locally made pistols, six magazines, 42 rounds of live ammunition, a dummy gun, a TVS motorcycle, an axe and other weapons.

He said: “On May 24, 2026, at about 5:30 p.m., operatives of the command arrested 57-year-old Akintayo Wasiu in Ibadan, Oyo State, in possession of a stolen Toyota Hiace Space Bus.

“The suspect, who was employed as the driver of the vehicle, allegedly stole the bus, relocated to Ibadan, changed the vehicle documents and his phone number in an attempt to evade arrest. He was apprehended in possession of the stolen vehicle and confessed to the crime.”

Fatai also disclosed that on May 23, 2026, police officers acting on intelligence in connection with an ongoing cultism investigation stormed a criminal hideout in Igando and arrested 31-year-old Waliu Olaleye, alleged leader of the Aiye Confraternity group in the area.

“During a search conducted at his residence in Igando, operatives recovered a locally made double-barrel pistol concealed inside the ceiling of the apartment,” he said.

The Commissioner further revealed that on May 24, 2026, at about 2:00 a.m., operatives responded to reports of hoodlums robbing residents around Ikola and adjoining communities while riding on a motorcycle. “On sighting the police, the three suspects fled, abandoning the TVS motorcycle with registration number EKY 732 QP,” he added.

According to him, a search conducted on the motorcycle led to the recovery of a locally fabricated Beretta pistol concealed on it.

Fatai said the successes recorded by the command in May underscored the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and proactive crime prevention strategies.

He assured residents that there would be no hiding place for criminal elements anywhere in Lagos State. (The Guardian)

Update news