Lagos State Police Command said it has arrested 15 suspects in connection with armed robbery and cultism.
This was said to be part of its efforts to protect lives and property in the state.
The suspects were identified as Taiye Lasisi (20), Segun Ariyo a.k.a Zangalo, Kazeem Akinpelu, Ibrahim Oni, Tobi Awoyefa, Yusuf Okunlowo, Oyesanya Damola, Bola Hassan and Toheeb Adesina.
Others are Hassan Ashiru, Onafowokan Michael, Folahan Adeola, Damilola Adeola and Julius Ihara.
Ariyo was said to have been arrested once, and transferred to the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in the state.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, December 29, 2020, the police image maker in the state, SP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said that the command had been on the trail of criminals who had been terrorising Lagosians at strategic locations, especially in Ikorodu and Lekki/Ajah areas of the state.
“On 28/12/2020, at about 4am, while responding to a distress call from Agunfoye area of Ikorodu, the police surveillance team attached to Ikorodu Division of the Command arrested one Taiye Lasisi ‘m’, 20, of Agunfoye, with a locally-made revolver pistol.
“After his arrest, a search was extended to other black spots in the area where 13 other suspected cultists belonging to Aiye Confraternity were arrested,” Adejobi stated
Apart from the revolver recovered from Lasisi, other exhibits recovered from the suspects included eight i-Phones, two Techno phones, a Nokia phone, three bags, one black belt, a white handkerchief containing four lighters, a black poly theme bag containing some local charms, some expended and live ammunition, and two black 25-litre kegs containing hard drug-laden drink called skushy.
The PPRO also disclosed that police operatives at Akodo Division arrested a suspected cultist, Lekan Razak (20) on December 28, at about 4am, while attempting to rob at 25, Ibomide Street, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.
The suspect, who confessed to being a member of Eiye Confraternity, was arrested with a locally-made pistol and some live cartridges, Adejobi said.
He added that the state Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, had ordered the transfer of the suspects to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, for discreet investigation.