Lagos Police Rescue 38 Foreign Nationals from Mob Action; Nab Suspected Armed Robbers, Cultists, Fake Soldiers • as CP Tijani reels out June achievements
By Oki O. Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
The Lagos State Police Command has recorded a sweeping series of operational successes in June 2026, arresting scores of suspected criminals, recovering illegal firearms, military camouflage uniforms, suspected illicit substances, stolen property and rescuing dozens of foreign nationals in a major offensive against crime and insecurity across the state. Addressing journalists including members of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja, the Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Tijani, said the achievements underscore the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing, proactive crime prevention and sustained efforts to make Lagos increasingly hostile to criminal elements.
According to the Police Commissioner, the Command recovered “14 firearms, four live cartridges, a MAN diesel truck, 51 mobile phones, two vehicle engine control units popularly known as brain boxes, one operational motorcycle, a truck loaded with 47 sacks of military camouflage uniforms, 80 cartons of suspected illicit substances, vandalized electrical cables and other incriminating exhibits.”
Among the notable breakthroughs was the arrest of two suspected cable vandals who were intercepted while allegedly vandalizing electric cables on the Third Mainland Bridge. The police recovered the stolen cables while efforts continue to apprehend other members of the syndicate.
In another operation, police arrested three suspects following a report of theft at a church construction site in Ayetoro-Ijanikin. Investigations led to the recovery of “two double-barrel guns and six locally made single-barrel guns,” which have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti.
CP Tijani also disclosed that the Command recorded a breakthrough against the notorious “One Chance” robbery syndicates operating in Lagos, as operatives arrested a suspect linked to the criminal network and recovered “51 different mobile phones suspected to be proceeds of previous robbery operations.”
Similarly, officers on stop-and-search duty in Festac Town arrested a suspect found in possession of two suspected stolen vehicle engine control units, while patrol teams in Ilupeju recovered “one cut-to-size locally made pistol, one English Brownie pistol and four live cartridges” from two young suspects.
The Commissioner further revealed that investigators arrested an armed robbery suspect linked to operations around the Ipaja axis and recovered a fabricated Beretta pistol and a motorcycle allegedly used by the gang.
One of the most significant operations during the month involved the arrest of three suspects by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the recovery of “an unregistered MAN diesel truck loaded with 47 sacks containing military camouflage uniforms and 80 cartons of drugs suspected to be illicit substances.” Investigations indicate the items were allegedly being transported to the South-East. The Command also arrested two suspected fake soldiers found wearing military uniforms and recovered a pump-action gun from them. In separate operations, police apprehended suspected cultists linked to the Eiye and Alora confraternities, recovering firearms, ammunition and other dangerous weapons.
On immigration-related enforcement, the police rescued “38 foreign nationals from possible mob action in Epe,” comprising citizens of Chad, Burkina Faso, Benin Republic, Mali, Togo, Cameroon and Ghana. Preliminary findings showed that while 18 possessed valid ECOWAS travel documents, 20 had entered Nigeria illegally. The matter has since been referred to the Nigerian Immigration Service and relevant diplomatic missions. The Command also arrested suspects involved in impersonation, including individuals posing as serving military personnel and a dismissed soldier allegedly involved in criminal activities.
Reaffirming the Command’s resolve to sustain the momentum, CP Fatai declared: “There will be no safe haven for criminal elements within Lagos State. We urge residents to continue partnering with the police by providing timely, useful and credible information that will support crime prevention and effective law enforcement.”
He added that all suspects currently in custody would be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
