Lagos: Police parade 118 suspects over cultism, robbery, kidnapping others
Lagos Police Arrest 118 Suspects in Major Criminal Crackdown
LAGOS, Nigeria — The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended 118 individuals in connection with various criminal activities, including cultism, armed robbery, murder, kidnapping, vandalism, illegal possession of firearms, and street violence.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, Police Commissioner Fatai Tijani attributed the arrests to ongoing intelligence-led operations and coordinated raids focused on known crime hotspots within the state.
Among the arrested is 38-year-old Emmanuel Ogbu, who reportedly admitted to resuming cult activities after previously serving a jail sentence in 2018 for a similar offense. His case exemplifies a troubling trend of recidivism being monitored by law enforcement officials.
The police reported that a series of operations conducted on April 27, 2026, in the Ilasan, Lekki, and Maroko areas resulted in the apprehension of 58 suspects associated with street violence, mobile phone theft, armed attacks, and harassment of local residents. Authorities allege that these individuals operated in groups, targeting unsuspecting members of the public, particularly in traffic corridors where they stole mobile devices and other valuables.
Recovered items from the suspects include 11 locally made Beretta pistols, one cut-to-size pistol, one standard Beretta, two Dane guns, and an assortment of charms, knives, and 21 bags of suspected Indian hemp.
In a related case, police arrested two suspects — 23-year-old Elijah Emmanuel and 21-year-old Tony Ekwane Oghanetega — in connection with a kidnapping that led to the death of 17-year-old Thomson Omokhafe Adams on April 22, 2026. Investigators have linked the pair to a previous kidnapping and murder incident on November 30, 2025, during which a female victim was killed after a ransom payment of 300,000 naira.
Tijani also outlined an ongoing investigation into the theft of over 650 telecom power assets reported between 2025 and 2026. This led to the arrest of Orji Emeka in Ikeja, who directed investigators to Alausa, where Obiagwu Kingsley was also taken into custody. Another suspect, Oluwatosin Sani, was arrested in the Gbogbo area of Ikorodu with nine telecom power batteries in his possession.
Additionally, eight suspected cultists were taken into custody during a raid in Iwaya on April 22, 2026, and another 20 suspects were arrested for cult-related violence and armed robbery on Lagos Island on April 20, 2026. The suspects are believed to belong to rival gangs, specifically the Aiye and Eiye groups, which have been involved in violent clashes earlier this month.
Commissioner Tijani stated that investigations are ongoing and confirmed that all suspects would face charges once interrogations and forensic analyses are completed.
