Police arrest three suspected Lagos carjackers, recover pistols

The suspects. Photo: Lagos Police Command

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of an armed robbery and carjacking syndicate operating in the Alakuko area of the state.

The suspects, identified as Faruk Rasheed, 20; Olamilekan Ademola, 28; and Abidemi Oluwawemo, 21, were arrested by operatives of the command following what the police described as “credible intelligence.”

The command said the suspects allegedly specialised in car snatching and robbing residents of their valuables.

The police spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebesi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, adding that the arrests were part of the command’s sustained efforts to tackle armed robbery, carjacking and other violent crimes across Lagos.

According to the statement, “preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects allegedly specialised in car snatching and robbing innocent citizens of their valuables.”

The police said a search conducted on the suspects after their arrest led to the recovery of three locally made firearms and eight rounds of live ammunition.

The statement added, “Two locally made pistols loaded with five cartridges and one locally made revolver pistol loaded with three rounds of 9mm live ammunition” were recovered.

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The command said the suspects were currently in police custody, while efforts were ongoing to arrest other members of the alleged syndicate.

However, the police did not disclose details of specific carjacking or robbery incidents allegedly linked to the suspects, the number of vehicles reportedly stolen or the identities of their alleged victims.

It was also not immediately clear when the suspects were arrested or whether they had been charged to court as of the time of filing this report.

PUNCH Online was also unable to speak with the suspects to obtain their side of the allegations against them.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, reiterated the command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks and ensuring the safety of residents across the state.

Fatai said the command remained committed to “dismantling criminal networks and ensuring the safety and security of residents across Lagos State.”

He also urged members of the public to report emergencies and suspicious activities through the command’s emergency lines.