Lagos Police Record Major Operational Successes, Recover 25 Vehicles, Arrest 21 One-Chance Syndicate Members
The Lagos State Police Command has recorded significant operational successes between December 2025 and January 2026, with the recovery of 25 stolen and illegally converted vehicles, the arrest of multiple criminal suspects, and the seizure of firearms, fake currencies, and dangerous weapons across the state.
Briefing journalists in Lagos, the Commissioner of Police said the achievements were the result of intelligence-led policing, targeted raids, sustained surveillance, and swift tactical responses to criminal activities.
According to him, suspects were arrested for offences ranging from conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, vehicle snatching, fraudulent conversion, smuggling, stealing, assault occasioning harm, and threats to life.
25 Vehicles, Firearms, Fake Currencies Recovered
The Commissioner disclosed that officers of the Command recovered a total of 25 vehicles reported stolen, unlawfully removed from motor parks, fraudulently converted, or smuggled into the state during the period under review.
In addition, the police recovered:
Four locally fabricated dane guns
Thirteen locally made cut-to-size pistols
Nine live cartridges and one expended cartridge
Bundles of suspected counterfeit United States Dollars and Euros
Fetish charms and other dangerous weapons
He noted that the recoveries underscore the effectiveness of the Command’s sustained strategies aimed at dismantling criminal networks, removing illegal firearms from circulation, and strengthening public safety across Lagos.
Arrest of 21 “One-Chance” Kidnapping and Robbery Suspects
Highlighting a major breakthrough, the Commissioner announced the arrest of 21 members of a notorious “one-chance” kidnapping and robbery syndicate in Idimu, Alimosho area of Lagos, following credible intelligence received in January 2026.
Recovered exhibits include:
Two Toyota Corolla vehicles (AKD 917 JH and FST 758 JZ)
One Toyota Camry (BDG 843 FB)
Fetish charms
Twenty-one bundles of suspected fake US Dollars
Twelve bundles of suspected fake Euros
He explained that the syndicate lured unsuspecting victims into vehicles, robbed and kidnapped them, and in some cases transported victims to isolated locations, including shrines, to dispossess them of valuables.
The Commissioner described the gang as highly coordinated and dangerous, noting that their arrest and the seizure of their operational vehicles have significantly disrupted their activities.
Bomb Threat to Schools: Suspect Arrested
The Command also addressed a bomb threat message circulated on 21 January 2025, targeting three schools—two in Ikeja and one in the Ogombo area of Lagos State—which caused panic among parents and the public.
According to the police boss, swift intelligence gathering and digital forensic investigations led to the arrest of one suspect linked to the threat.
Although the suspect claimed he had lost his mobile phone before the threat was issued, investigations revealed that the same line was actively used to communicate with family members during and after the period the threats were sent, contradicting his claim. The suspect’s father also reportedly confirmed that he is known to be a truant.
The suspect remains in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Details of Recovered Vehicles
The recovered vehicles include Toyota, Lexus, Mercedes, Honda, Ford, Land Rover, Suzuki minibuses, and several commercial “Danfo” buses, some unregistered, recovered across different parts of the state during operations conducted between December 2025 and January 2026.
Ongoing Investigations
The Commissioner said several suspects are still assisting police investigations, which are focused on:
Identifying accomplices linked to armed robbery and one-chance operations
Establishing interstate and cross-border vehicle-snatching networks
Verifying rightful ownership of all recovered vehicles
Tracing the sources of the recovered fake currencies
Strengthening oversight of car-hire services and informal transport systems often exploited by criminals
He reassured residents that the Lagos State Police Command remains committed to protecting lives and property and urged the public to continue supporting the police with timely information.
“Lagos is safe, and we will continue to deploy intelligence-driven strategies to ensure the security of all residents,” the Commissioner said.
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