The Lagos State Police Command has arrested more than 200 individuals on charges ranging from armed robbery and cultism to drug possession and kidnapping.
The arrests were made during a large-scale crackdown within the first week of Commissioner of Police (CP) Ishola Olanrewaju’s tenure in Lagos.
During his inaugural press briefing at the Command headquarters in Ikeja, CP Olanrewaju confirmed that the operations leading to these arrests were part of his early efforts to stamp out criminal activity in the state.
“Hard times await anyone with a criminal mind,” Olanrewaju said, making it clear that his administration would show no leniency to offenders.
He emphasized that “the era of begging criminals to repent or relocate is over,” vowing to make Lagos hostile to criminal activities.
CP Olanrewaju, who previously served in different capacities in Lagos, reiterated his familiarity with the state’s security landscape.
“I have worked in Lagos in different capacities, and I know the state in and out,” he stated confidently.
He credited his predecessor, Fayoade, for handing over effective policing strategies but stressed that his leadership would bring even tougher enforcement. “I made it clear that I am here for business and I mean it,” Olanrewaju added.
The new Police Commissioner also noted that he takes an active role in operations. “I don’t sit in the office and allow my officers to work. I go with them. I lead operations, and the result is what you are seeing.” Over 200 suspects were apprehended during a series of raids on criminal hotspots throughout the city, and Olanrewaju pledged that his team would continue this aggressive approach.
However, the CP clarified that not all those arrested would necessarily face charges. “We will profile them to know those who were in the wrong place at the time we raided,” he explained, ensuring that the innocent would be separated from genuine criminals.
Despite concerns about prison overcrowding, he affirmed that it is the judiciary’s responsibility to decide on incarceration, while the police will continue to perform their duties: “I cannot say because of prison congestion, I won’t do my job as the CP.”
Olanrewaju further warned criminals: “I am not begging any criminal to repent or relocate to other states. If I ask you to relocate, I am causing problems for the neighboring state. I should arrest them here and send them to jail.”
Items seized from the suspects included: ten firearms, 41 live rounds of ammunition, 12 mobile phones, one vehicle, USD 402, 39 bags of cement, a ton of iron rods, a laptop, and an assortment of drugs, weapons, and charms.
These materials, according to the police, were recovered during the raids and would form part of the evidence for the prosecution.
