…..Reels Out Half-Year Achievements
The Lagos State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing fight against crime, announcing the recovery of 36 stolen exotic vehicles and the arrest of over 50 suspected cultists during a sweeping half-year crackdown across the state.
According to the Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, the arrests and recoveries are part of intensified efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating within the metropolis and its environs.
He revealed that the some of the stolen vehicles which worth hundreds of millions of naira were traced to cases ranging from outright theft to fraudulent transactions, diversions by drivers, and cross-border smuggling operations.
“These vehicles were either stolen within Lagos or snatched from other states and moved through Lagos for illegal export.
Some were fraudulently obtained or diverted under trusted arrangements,” CP Jimoh said during a press briefing on Wednesday.
He noted that an additional 70 vehicles are in police custody undergoing verification, and called on victims of vehicle theft to visit the Command Headquarters for identification.
Simultaneously, a robust offensive against cultism has yielded major results. CP Jimoh disclosed that over 50 suspected cultists have been apprehended through coordinated raids by newly inaugurated anti-cultism squads.
These tactical units have been deployed across all 14 Area Commands of the state, fully equipped and backed by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.
“Just recently, we arrested 23 cultists linked to violent disturbances, and with these squads now active, the number has risen to over 50,” he said.
In addition to the arrests, the Command paraded a cache of recovered weapons including 82 firearms, mostly taken from cultists and a collection of fake but realistic-looking guns resembling real models like Beretta and Browning pistols.
CP Jimoh warned that even imitation firearms would attract serious legal consequences when used in criminal activity.
“These toy guns are expertly fabricated to look like the real thing. Anyone using them to commit crimes like armed robbery will be treated as if they were carrying a real weapon,” he warned.
The Commissioner attributed the recent victories to the revamped crime prevention strategies introduced since his assumption of office. “We have turned around the operational modalities for crime detection and prevention. Our response time to incidents is now down to about five minutes,” he said.
CP Jimoh expressed gratitude to the Inspector-General for providing cutting-edge technology, crime-fighting tools, and mobility support, all of which have strengthened the Command’s efficiency.
Equally, he lauded Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the Lagos State Government’s daily logistical and operational support. “The governor’s backing has made our work easier and more impactful,” he said.
He also praised Lagos residents for their timely and credible intelligence, which he described as central to the Command’s success. “This is a collective victory. The people have been our greatest partners in this fight,” he added.
Reaffirming the Command’s commitment to safety, CP Jimoh declared that incidents of violent crime in Lagos had dropped to “the barest minimum,” stating confidently that “there has been no major armed robbery case recorded since I resumed duty.”
He warned criminal elements to steer clear of Lagos. “This is not the state to hide. If you remain, we will fish you out, and the full weight of the law will be applied. Cultists will not only be tried for unlawful association but for murder, arson, and other grievous offenses.”
