Police breakthrough: Lagos command sanitizes crime hotspots, arrests 20-year fugitive with five AK-47 rifles

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun, has reaffirmed that achieving national security demands unprecedented institutional collaboration, a strategy the Lagos State Police Command is leveraging to dismantle major crime networks and maintain a low crime rate in Lagos 

In his address delivered by the Commissioner of Police, CP, Olohundare Jimoh, at a recent Razornews inter-agency cooperation awards ceremony; titled “ Institutional Collaboration as a Tool for Counter-Terrorism and Crime” held in Lagos, the IGP stressed that "No single institution, no matter how capable can address these challenges alone," emphasizing the critical need for partnership, joint planning, and intelligence sharing across agencies.

CP Jimoh attributed the state’s current safety record where the crime rate has been reduced to the "barest minimum"to a stable security structure, which he credited to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Administration.

 "The structure and standard that Mr. President has laid in Lagos State brings everybody as partners, because of the structure. The RRS are there, LASTMA are there, and we collaborate together to ensure the safety in this state," CP Jimoh stated.

To fill operational gaps, the Command introduced several initiatives where Intervention Force Expansion (IFE) like a rapid response unit has been established to quickly respond to incidents on the Lagos Mainland. This unit, currently with about 100 personnel, is being expanded to 57 commands as one per LGA/LCDA.

The Command also introduced a Marine Security (MS) where a Tactical Strike Force (TSF) was established to assist the Marine Police, strengthening coverage across water areas to prevent any security influx "coming through the waterway into the state."

It equally introduced a CID Data Force (CID) for investigative capacity of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was enhanced by changing the "Ambassadors" unit to the Data Force, which now utilizes crime experts to ensure that every committed crime is properly detected.

The Command detailed specific operational achievements in neutralizing long-term criminal elements and penetrating previously secured areas

 CP Jimoh confirmed that the Command has successfully entered and sanitized areas like Mushin that were previously considered "impenetrable" or dangerous strongholds.

 A group leader known as Shamelion, operating in the Lagos Mainland, was arrested and is currently imprisoned.

 A major arms supplier, who had been sought for up to 20 years, was finally arrested and is now in prison. From his possession, the police recovered a cache of weapons, including five AK-47 rifles, which he confessed to owning.

Concluding the address, the IGP’s message emphasized the need for national cohesion and paid tribute to fallen officers:

 "I am heartened by the level of cooperation and understanding that continue to pull among our security institutions.Our ability to safeguard our nation depends on our unity of purpose, our readiness to share knowledge, and our willingness to work together."

The IGP called for a minute of silence to honor police officers who have paid the supreme price in the line of duty, underscoring the necessity of public support for the sacrifices made by security personnel.