The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 36 suspects who allegedly used the lockdown period to perpetuate crime in the state.
Their arrest is contained in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, on Saturday.
Elkana said that 20 suspects were arrested on Friday within Ilaje and Ajah communities for allegedly engaging in gang violence.
He also said that seven were arrested on Saturday at Burma/Creek Road, Apapa for allegedly engaging in a battle for supremacy on the street by Area B Command, Apapa Division.
“Their mission on the street is mainly to steal and loot under the guise of supremacy battle,” he stated.
According to Elkana, nine suspects were also arrested along Abule Egba and Ifako Ijaiye areas for robbery attempts on residents in communities under Ogun State, neighbouring Lagos State.
“Investigation is ongoing and the suspects will soon be charged to court,” he stated.
Elkana said that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Hakeem Odumosu, ordered the immediate deployment of operatives of the Command’s Special Strike Force on Social Miscreants, Anti Robbery Squad, Anti Cultism Squad and Raiders to various parts of the state.
“This is to support the efforts of Area Commands and Divisional patrol teams already deployed to the fields to tackle the menace of social miscreants and violent crimes perpetrated by hoodlums.
“Operatives of the Command’s Rapid Response Squad are positioned in strategic locations to promptly respond to distress calls.
“Patrol teams have been deployed to the various communities and streets and the teams have been intensified around markets and stores to prevent hoodlums from stealing and looting,” he said.
Elkana assured members of the public of adequate protection of their lives and property during and after the lockdown period.
“In case of emergency, call the following numbers 09010512285, 09010512286, 09010512287, 09010512288,” he said.
In a related development, two rival hoodlum groups, on Saturday, clashed in Ibadan and attacked one another with cultlasses and other dangerous weapons resulting to the death of one person and injuring others.
According to an eyewitness, the clash between the groups emanated from Olunde axis and Sanyo axis and later extended to Bonphoto area of Ibadan.
The witness said that one of the combatants was allegedly killed in the process while others sustained various degrees of injury.
The witness said that the incident caused panic and pandemonium in the area while residents scamper for safety.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Olugbenga Fadeyi, confirmed the incident in Ibadan.
Fadeyi said that the clash was not between cult groups but two hoodlum groups; namely Ebila and Ekugbemi groups.
The PPRO said that the incident happened around 4 p.m on Saturday.
“A report was received by the DPO Sanyo area that one Mosudi Ekugbemi of Olunde area was allegedly fatally injured with machete cuts by a group of area boys led by one Ebila Abiola during an open fight, while Abiola was purportedly trying to collect land royalty from one Babatunde who was roofing his building under construction.
“But some social miscreants at Mapo Bornphoto and Agbadagudu in Bere area attempted to take advantage of the circulation of the alleged death of Mosudi Ekungbemi.
“The Police with support from other security agencies were quickly deployed to these areas and doused the tension, while Babatunde Oladapo and Ibrahim Abisoye were arrested and assisting the police in their investigations.
“The State Commissioner of Police, CP Shina Olukolu, wishes to reassure the people of the state that the police are on top of the situation and normalcy have since been restored,” Fadeyi said
He said that the CP has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of Criminal Investigation Department (DIC) to take over the case.
