Inside Lagos Police’s Crime War: Guns, Stolen Cars, and ₦500 Million Fraud Uncovered
By Arikawe Femi
The Lagos State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police CP Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, has recorded significant breakthroughs in its renewed efforts to combat crime across the state. As part of the Command’s strategic reforms in crime prevention, control, and management, a public display was held on Monday, August 11, 2025, at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja to showcase a wide array of recovered exhibits linked to recent criminal investigations.
Since assuming office, CP Jimoh has implemented new operational strategies aimed at transforming the Command’s approach to crime detection and response. These reforms are designed to ensure the safety of lives and property across Lagos, while protecting the investments of the Federal Government, the Lagos State Government, and both local and foreign stakeholders operating within the state.
The exhibits on display included firearms, stolen vehicles, and tools used in various criminal operations. Although the suspects involved in these cases were not physically paraded, their identities and alleged offences were disclosed as part of the Command’s commitment to transparency and public accountability.
Among the items presented were 17 firearms, including AK-49 rifles, Beretta pistols, English revolvers, and locally fabricated weapons. The police also recovered 99 rounds of live ammunition of assorted calibres, along with crude weapons such as axes, hammers, concrete blocks, and broken bottles believed to have been used in assaults. Bulletproof vests and fake security identification cards used for impersonation were also displayed.
Several stolen or illegally acquired vehicles were paraded, including a Mercedes-Benz E350, a Toyota RAV4, an unregistered Toyota Camry, two minibuses, and a 2021 Lexus Hybrid Jeep valued at over ₦75 million, which was intercepted without import documentation. A Suzuki commercial minibus, popularly known as Korope, allegedly used in ‘one chance’ robbery operations, was also among the exhibits.
Other recovered items included 19 mobile phones, six laptops and tablets, point-of-sale machines, fraudulent documents linked to scams worth over ₦500 million, and forged identification materials including naval IDs.
The Command provided briefings on several high-profile cases. These included the arrest of four suspects linked to a ₦500 million visa scam involving fake Canadian and Australian work permits; the apprehension of individuals connected to a ₦5 million kidnapping case; and the dismantling of a car theft syndicate that posed as drivers, stole vehicles, and sold dismantled parts at Ladipo Market.
In another case, suspects involved in ‘one chance’ robbery were arrested following a victim’s alert, leading to the recovery of weapons and stolen items from the Korope minibus. Seven individuals were also apprehended for impersonating security personnel and hijacking fuel tankers. Additionally, two suspects were caught in Ketu while robbing passengers in a moving vehicle, and a stolen Toyota Camry was recovered from an ex-convict who confessed to the crime.
Commissioner Jimoh reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to reduce crime and protect residents and visitors across Lagos State. He stated that all suspects would be charged to court upon completion of investigations and urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police formation.
