…Murder trail across lagos ends as prime suspect faces justice
The long arm of international policing closed in decisively as operatives of INTERPOL arrested a Lagos-based businessman, Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi, in the Benin Republic, bringing to a halt months of cross-border evasion linked to multiple violent crimes.
Akanbi, who had been declared wanted by the police on February 19, was apprehended on April 15 in a hotel in Cotonou after sustained intelligence tracking and international collaboration.
He was subsequently handed over to the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, marking a critical breakthrough in investigations surrounding a string of high-profile killings and related offences.
Addressing journalists at the zonal headquarters, AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh confirmed that the suspect had fled Nigeria and moved across borders in a calculated attempt to escape justice before his eventual capture.
The police hierarchy, he disclosed, had earlier received directives from the Inspector General of Police to reopen and intensify investigations into the killings, which had stirred tension in parts of Lagos State.
Jimoh described the case as complex and far-reaching, involving allegations of multiple murders, attempted killings and destruction of property over several years, with Akanbi identified as a central figure.
According to preliminary findings, some arrested accomplices allegedly confessed to carrying out deadly operations on the instructions of the suspect, who was also accused of financing the attacks.
Among the incidents under investigation are the murder of Sheriff Ishola Salami on April 18, 2023, and the killing of Prince Ademola Akinloye on August 26, 2024, both in the Eti-Osa axis of Lagos, in attacks investigators believe were coordinated and premeditated.
The AIG noted that earlier investigative efforts by successive Commissioners of Police in Lagos laid the groundwork for the latest breakthrough, with fresh evidence strengthening the case against the suspect.
While cautioning against misinformation and attempts to politicise the matter, Jimoh assured that due process would be followed and justice pursued without compromise, urging victims and affected individuals to come forward with credible evidence.
Also speaking, Commissioner of Police in charge of INTERPOL, Fidelis Ogarabe, credited the arrest to strong international cooperation, revealing that intelligence on the suspect’s whereabouts led to swift action by operatives, while recovered items including travel documents, mobile devices and a luxury vehicle are expected to deepen ongoing investigations.