The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 147 suspects and recovered 250 expanded cartridges, machetes, illicit drugs and other weapons during a coordinated raid on criminal hideouts across parts of the state.
The Command said the operation, carried out under its ongoing Operation KO S’AYE III, targeted criminal hideouts at Boolar, Super Ile-Epo and other identified black spots in Lagos.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, the raid was conducted at about 5:30 a.m. on Sunday by a joint team of operatives drawn from different formations of the Command following credible intelligence.
The police said the operation was aimed at flushing out hoodlums and other criminal elements allegedly terrorising the affected communities.
Items recovered during the operation included 250 expanded cartridges, 22 machetes, five battle axes, two knives, a pair of scissors, a lighter, assorted charms and substances suspected to be Indian hemp.
The Command said all 147 suspects are currently in police custody, adding that investigations are ongoing to determine their individual involvement in criminal activities.
It stated that suspects found to have committed criminal offences would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The arrests come less than two weeks after 150 suspects were apprehended during similar operation on July 5 at Boolar, Okofilling Bus Stop, Igando, and other identified black spots within the Area M, Idimu axis.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Tijani Fatai, commended the operatives for what he described as their professionalism and dedication to duty.
He reiterated the Command’s commitment to sustaining Operation KO S’AYE III across the state to deny criminal elements safe havens and enhance the security of lives and property.
The police commissioner also appealed to residents to continue providing timely and credible information that would assist security agencies in identifying criminal hideouts, apprehending offenders and improving public safety across Lagos.
