The Assistant Inspector-General of Police Olatoye Durosinmi-led Zone 2 Police, comprising Lagos and Ogun states, have arrested and paraded 23 suspected crime merchants for various criminal offences.

Parading the 23 suspects, made up of 21 males and 2 females, before members of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) and other media men, the Zonal Public Relations Officer, SP Umma T. Ayuba, who representated the AIG, said the suspects were arrested for various crimes and at different areas of the zone.

She noted that the arrest was part of the efforts of the zone under AIG Durosinmi to mitigate crime, and has so far yielded tremendous results.

The offences, she revealed bordered on Criminal Conspiracy, Kidnapping, Breaking & Stealing, Armed Robbery and Adulteration of Pharmaceutical drugs with the recovery of exhibits in great numbers, including locally made double barrel and single barrel pistols, 10 rounds of live cartridges, five cars of different makes, two of which were unregistered, including Mazda, Nissan Primera and Toyota.

Other items recovered from the suspects were food stuffs such as bags of rice and garri, adulterated pharmaceutical products and empty bottles of drugs.

Narrating how some of the suspension ts were nabbed, SP Ayuba said

“On the 1st June, 2024 Operatives of the Zonal Dragon Squad arrested one Samson Sesan ‘m’ an ex- convict who is the principal suspect and kingpin of a robbery gang involved in several robbery incidents around Abeokuta area at Ilaro, Ogun State. While conducting search at his apartment, One (1) Locally Made Double Barrel Pistol, One (1) Locally Made Single Barrel Pistol and Ten (10) Live Cartridges were recovered. Upon interrogation, other suspects were arrested and more exhibits recovered.

“In the same vein, a case of Kidnapping was reported to the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Command Headquarters by one Jona Jumai ‘f’ that sometimes in the month of May, 2024 her sister one Ruth Livinus ‘f’ who works as a domestic staff in Ajah Area of Lagos went missing and few days later the family members were contacted via a strange telephone number that Ruth Livinus ‘f’ has been kidnapped and in custody of the kidnappers who demanded Five Million Naira (N5,000,000:00k) Ransom be paid into a designated account. Suspects were trailed and arrested in their hideout in Ikorodu Area of Lagos by Operatives of the Zonal Anti-Piracy Unit led by SP Mariam Ogunmolasuyi.

“Investigation revealed that it was the purported kidnap-victim Ruth Livinus ‘f’, her boyfriend Isaac Gabriel ‘m’ and one Jeremiah Boniface ‘m’ (her cousin) prearranged the kidnap to extort monies from her employer and family members.
Similarly, one Dennis Ebeze ‘m’ who was a domestic staff (Chef) at the time was alleged of Breaking and Stealing of jewelries and other valuables worth over Forty Million Naira (N40,000,000:00k) in a petition received from Dr. Ademola Oyewusi ‘m’ sometimes in August 2023. The suspect was arrested somewhere in Makurdi, Benue State through a technology driven investigation by SP Mariam Ogunmolasuyi and team.

“He confessed to have sold the stolen items to one Mutairu Yakubu ‘m’ for a sum of Seven Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N7,400,000:00k) before he absconded to his hometown in Cross-River State.
Furthermore, a petition filed by one Walter Anyaoha ‘m’, the Managing Director of Wihyaland Pharmaceutical Limited in which he alleged that his trainee one Chisom Ndukwu ‘m’ who has been living with him suddenly left the house to an unknown place, and when he checked his shop he realized that Four (4) Cartons of JVI drug valued Nine Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N9,600,000:00k) were also missing in the shop.

“Investigation into the allegation by CSP Omotayo Adegbite O/C Zonal Anti-Crime Unit led to the arrest of the suspect in company of his accomplice one Mark Chukwuemeka Ambush ‘m’ who is into production of Adulterated Cough Syrups. Upon search conducted in the houses and premises of the suspects, Bags containing packs with inscription of DSP CODIENE COUGH SYRUPS and empty Bottles & Covers of cough syrups were recovered.

“Suspects admitted to the crime with one Kosi ‘m’ who is currently at large.
Investigation is ongoing, while efforts are being intensified to arrest fleeing suspects.
Meanwhile updates will be provided to members of the public and suspects will be prosecuted accordingly upon completion of investigations.