The Lagos State Police Command has intercepted a truck transporting a large quantity of military camouflage allegedly being moved out of the state, while also recovering illicit drugs and arresting suspected armed criminals in separate operations.
Speaking during the parade of suspects at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja, the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, said the truck was intercepted by operatives of the command’s tactical unit following intelligence reports.
According to him, the vehicle, which was reportedly traveling through the Lekki-Epe corridor en route to the South-East, was found carrying bales of military camouflage concealed among other items.
CP Tijani said the operation was carried out after security operatives received information about the movement of the consignment.
“The truck was intercepted before it could leave Lagos. A large quantity of military camouflage was recovered, alongside cartons of prohibited drugs that were being transported with the clothing materials,” he said.
The police commissioner noted that investigations were ongoing to determine the source of the items and identify those behind the shipment.
He assured residents that the command would provide updates as more details emerge from the investigation.
In another operation, police operatives arrested two suspects and recovered eight firearms following intelligence supplied by residents of an estate in the Ijanikin area.
Tijani said community members had alerted security agencies to the presence of unfamiliar individuals whose activities raised concerns.
Acting on the information, officers moved into the area and arrested the suspects. Recovered from them were two double-barrel guns and six locally fabricated single-barrel firearms.
The suspects are currently assisting investigators with information that could lead to further arrests, he added.
The police command also disclosed the arrest of several foreign nationals during a raid on a building on Lagos Island.
Those detained include 14 citizens of Chad, nine from Burkina Faso, four from Benin Republic, four Malians, two Togolese, two Cameroonians and one Guinean.
According to the commissioner, many of those arrested were unable to provide convincing explanations regarding their activities in Nigeria.
While some of them possessed ECOWAS travel documents, he said they could not satisfactorily account for their presence in the country beyond claiming to be involved in networking activities.
Tijani said the individuals would be transferred to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further profiling and investigation after the police conclude preliminary inquiries.
The command further announced the arrest of members of a suspected “one chance” robbery syndicate operating in the state.
Investigations revealed that the alleged leader of the group was responsible for renting vehicles and deploying gang members to various locations where they carried out their operations.
Police said the suspects have provided useful information, including details about an alleged sponsor believed to be financing the criminal activities.
The commissioner disclosed that efforts were underway to apprehend the suspected backer, expressing confidence that security operatives would soon track him down.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations aimed at tackling crime and improving security across Lagos State.
