Joy Anyim
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 720 suspects, and recovered items looted during the #EndSARS unrest, in a Sunday morning clampdown on criminal hideouts in parts of Lagos.
The arrests followed reports of robberies in parts of the state, following the alleged abandonment of duty by policemen, occasioned by #EndSARS violence.
According to the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who issued a statement on the arrests, the massive clampdown was in a bid to solidify the security architecture of Lagos State.
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Mr. Adejobi noted that the Lagos State Police Command has re-launched its Anti-Crime Strategies to curb crimes and criminality across the state.
He also stated that the suspects were arrested with guns, charms, substances suspected to be Indian hemp, cocaine and other incriminating items.
“The command on Sunday November 15, at about 7:00a.m., carried out raids simultaneously on identified black spots, reasonably believed to be harbouring criminals and hoodlums, across the 14Area Commands in Lagos State.
“In the swift operations, police operatives of the command arrested 720 suspects with incriminating items including locally-made guns and life cartridges, charms, weed suspected to be Indian hemp, substances suspected to be cocaine and some items suspected to have been looted from various shopping outlets within the state during the recent EndSARS violence, ” he said.
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Speaking further, the PPRO said that the Commissioner of Police (CP), Hakeem Odumosu, had matched his words with actions, by directing police officers to move against lawlessness and criminality in Lagos.
He said the CP had also affirmed the zeal of the command to sustain the operations, even, beyond the yuletide season.
“CP Odumosu has however directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Sate Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, to commence discreet investigation on the arrested suspects for immediate prosecution.
“He also urged those whose items were looted during the recent Endsars violence to come up for claims of their items with prove of ownership,” he said.
Adejobi said the police chief has commended the officers and men of the command for the successful operations, while he charged them to be at alert for more operations across the state.