POLICE BUSTS FIREARMS FACTORY IN LAGOS; WARNS PEOPLE ILLEGALLY HAVING FIREARMS TO SUBMIT THEM

• Reels out achievements in one month

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, CP Idowu Owohunwa today revealed the successes that the Command was able to achieve in the past one month. National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can report that the case of a factory in Lekki, Lagos where firearms are being produced is among the successes made.

Addressing newsmen including members of NAOSNP today, the Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Owohunwa ably represented by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Benjamin Hundeyin noted: ‘Before you today we have a total of thirty-two (32) suspects who have engaged in varying crimes including adulteration of product, fabrication of firearms, armed robbery, stealing, cultism etc. From all these cases which we successfully cracked, we recovered a total of twenty-five (25) firearms including a toy gun, seventy-four (74) live cartridges, twelve (12) expended cartridges, twelve (12) long pipes, two drilling machines, one gas cylinder, one vehicle, other fabricated tools, two daggers, one UTC axe, various charms and 251 adulterated wires.’

On the uncovering of the firearms factory, the Lagos Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Owohunwa indicated: ‘On September 11, 2023, at about 1600hrs, based on actionable intelligence on a blacksmith who fabricated firearms for onward sales to criminals around Idata Village of Ibeju-Lekki, operatives of the Command busted the factory and arrested one Musiliu Gbenga ‘m’ aged 21 and Owolabi Azeez ‘m’ aged 22. The following items were recovered from the factory: three single-barrel locally-made pistols, one double-barrel locally-made gun, one single-barrel locally-made gun, two single-barrel locally-made long gun, ten expended cartridges, twelve long pipes, two drilling machines, one gas cylinder, one vehicle and other fabricated tools.’

In the light of this, CP Idowu Owohunwa warned others who are illegally in possession of firearms to surrender before they get into police net. His words, ‘In line with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Kayode Egbetokun that all Commands mop up arms and ammunitions in the hands of non-state actors within their respective jurisdictions, the Lagos State Police Command hereby calls on all persons having illegal possession of arms and ammunition to come forward and submit them without getting arrested or prosecuted.’

‘Meanwhile the Command will continue the clampdown on the illegal fabrication, sales, possession, and use of prohibited firearms in the state, NAOSNP gathered.

Two cases of stealing were reported. ‘On September 18, 2023, at about 1430hrs, operatives of the Command arrested one Ogbonna Eze ‘m’ aged 27 who disguised himself as a dispatch rider to vandalize vehicles by removing brain boxes and other parts.’

‘On October 10, 2023, at about 0130hrs, based on credible intelligence that some group of boys in military uniform invaded a motor park in Surulere and were stealing brain boxes, operatives of the Command stormed the scene and arrested one Kelechi Ofo ‘m’ aged 30 with three brain boxes while others fled upon sighting the police’, NAOSNP gathered.

Two cases of cultism were also reported. ‘Operatives of the Command have arrested two suspected cultists namely Omotosho Olanrewaju ‘m’ aged 27 and Alabi Damilare ‘m’ aged 20. Similarly, on October 8, 2023, one Quadri Fawas ‘m’ aged 18 was arrested. Investigation revealed the suspects to be members of a cult group.
On October 6, 2023, one Modile Juwon aka Number two ‘m’ aged 35 was arrested. Investigation revealed him to be the second in command of a cult group operating and terrorizing Grammar school area of Ikorodu.’

‘On October 11, 2023, at about 2345hrs, intelligence report gathered revealed that a wanted notorious and deadly cultist known as ‘SKIPO’ who was involved in the killing of a rival cultist was spotted in a hideout in Yaba area of Lagos State.
Police operatives of the Command swung into action and arrested one Ganiu Yusuf aka Skipo ‘m’ aged 23 in possession of two.9mm ammunition. Further investigation led to the arrest of Ikuologbon Tobi aka Iku ‘m’ aged 23, Salaudeen Azeez aka Suzzy ‘m’ aged 27, Sanni Jamiu aka J-boy ‘m’ aged 26, Ganiu Muideen aka Stone ‘m’ aged 23, Odinaka Ojiakor ‘m’ aged 26 and Farouk Muibi aka Ozil ‘m’ aged 22 in different areas of the state in possession of two locally made single barrel guns, one double barrel shot gun, three live cartridges, one dagger and different charms.
Investigation revealed that they are all cult members.’

Other cases reported include impersonation, adulteration of products, and so on. ‘On September 13, 2023, at about 0600hrs, operatives of the Command arrested one Emmanuel Aliyu ‘m’ aged 26 after receipt of a distress call on the stealing of a Toyota Corolla. The police officers went in pursuit of the criminals. The vehicle was recovered. Efforts are ongoing to arrest his cohorts who fled upon sighting the police.’

‘On October 2, 2023, at about 1430hrs after receipt of complaint from a hotel against some men in full military uniform harassing, intimidating and extorting members of the public, operatives of the Command arrested one Chukwuka Ndo ‘m’ aged 29 while others fled upon sighting the police.’

‘On September 5, 2023, at about 1330hrs, based on receipt of complaints from a reputable electricity cable manufacturer on the adulteration and sales of pirated cables using their company’s trademark by some traders in Alaba Market. Operatives of the Command stormed the area and arrested one Emmanuel Chukwuma ‘m’ aged 19, Chima Alajemba ‘m’ aged 19, Ogbenna Franklin ‘m’ aged 42 and Chidi Nnaji ‘m’ aged 42 with a total of 251 adulterated wires.’

‘On October 12, 2023, at about 0230hrs, after receipt of complaints that some groups of boys were seen shooting sporadically around Church Avenue Ikosi. Operatives of the Command swung into action and arrested one Onah Stephen ‘m’ aged 33, Seyi Fakoya ‘m’ aged 36, Samuel Abayomi ‘m’ aged 36 and Oluwaseyi Ajayi ‘m’ aged 41.’

‘On October 15, 2023, operatives of the Command arrested one Izuchukwu Madu ‘m’ aged 39, Chidozie Ilekoroneje ‘m’ aged 34, Alabi Sodiq ‘m’ aged 40, Hycient Ikechukwu ‘m’ aged 40 and Felix Asogba ‘m’ aged 27 who are responsible for stealing a Cherokee jeep, disassembling it and selling its part at a local spare part market. All suspects would be arraigned at the conclusion of investigation.’

A case of illegal possession of firearms was also reported. ‘On September 1, 2023, at about 2300hrs, operatives of the Command arrested one Lukmon Jimoh ‘m’ aged 35 and Chukwuemeka Okwasilieze ‘m’ aged 28 who were seen loitering around Ibeju-Lekki. One locally-made pistol, one toy pistol, one cartridge, one dagger, one UTC axe were recovered from them. They are suspected members of a one chance gang.’