…Zone 2 busts deadly syndicate in Lagos
The Nigeria Police Force Zone 2 Command has recorded a major operational breakthrough with the arrest of seven suspected members of a deadly criminal syndicate linked to multiple murders and armed robberies in Lagos.
The suspects were apprehended by operatives of the Zonal headquarters in Onikan under the leadership of AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, in what authorities described as a decisive strike against violent crime networks operating within the state.
The arrests followed a coordinated intelligence-led operation carried out on March 3, 2026, when operatives of the Zonal Puff Adder squad tracked and arrested one Fawas Opeyemi Alarape, 23, also known as Karube, believed to be a key figure in several violent crimes.
Police sources disclosed that actionable intelligence obtained from the suspect led to a daring raid on a notorious criminal enclave popularly referred to as “Lion’s Den” in Adeleye Street, Orile Iganmu, an area long perceived as impenetrable by law enforcement.
The precision operation resulted in the arrest of five additional suspects identified as Soliu Ahmed, Oluwaseun Bolarinwa, Bamidele Mustapha, Abass Abideen, and Salisu Ali, while another suspect, Atanda Lukmon, was apprehended separately at White Sand in Orile Iganmu.
A cache of dangerous exhibits was recovered during the raid, including a locally made cut to size shotgun, four cutlasses, a knife, a claw hammer, live and expended cartridges, as well as assorted charms believed to be used for criminal activities.
During interrogation, the prime suspect reportedly confessed to his involvement in the murder of a tricycle operator at Shitta Under Bridge in Surulere, where the victim was dispossessed of his tricycle before being fatally shot.
Further confessions by the suspects linked them to the killings of three other victims in separate incidents in Orile Iganmu in February 2026, reinforcing police claims that the syndicate was responsible for a string of violent attacks in the area.
The suspects are currently in custody and assisting investigators, with authorities confirming that they will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations on charges ranging from murder to armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.
Commending the operatives, Jimoh praised their professionalism and courage, reiterating the command’s commitment to flushing out criminal elements across Lagos and Ogun States, while urging residents to sustain cooperation with the police through credible information sharing.