Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, paraded electoral offenders, suspected kidnappers and armed robbery suspects.
The suspects were paraded at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos.
Eight suspects were handed over to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while the police are prosecuting three suspects in connection with violence during the elections.
The items recovered include: guns, cutlass, knives, ballot boxes, ballot papers, INEC identity cards, reflective jackets, bags, PVC cards, charms, pepper spray and one animal horn.
The suspects: Elizabeth Adenike, Chisom Kalu, Charity Hannah, Mike Nwokehia and Joseph Agada were arrested in Mushin, Ojo and Aswani for unlawful possession of 114 Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) and diversion of sensitive electoral materials, which include two ballot boxes, one Bsimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine and three packs of ballot papers.
Animashun Kabiru was arrested in Sabo, Yaba, for unlawful possession of firearms and two jack knives, small axe, pepper spray, one locally made pistol, one dagger and charms, which were recovered from him.
Spokesperson for the Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, while parading the suspects said Uche Chinedu was arrested March 18, 2023, at about 1:30.p.m. at Ibashe town, while voting was ongoing.
He said Chinedu came to the Polling Unit in accompany of his men and attempted to carry the ballot box, which resulted in a serious argument in the community. He used an object suspected to be animal horn to injure people at the polling unit. He was arrested, while the victims were hospitalised.
He said: “On March 18, 2023, Sunday Awnunu came to Idale town hall Polling Unit, Badagry to disrupt the electoral process. He was arrested by the Police with 16 pieces of electoral papers (specimen) with 19 pieces of designed form that contain names and accounts at the polling Unit. 16 pieces of electoral papers (specimen), 19 pieces of designed form that contain names and accounts at the polling unit were recovered.
“The same day, One Omaji Oyegwra Kenneth, was arrested at No.34, Olorunfemi street Oworonshoki, Lagos, during the counting and sorting of ballot papers at the Polling Unit. He threatened the INEC official to upload the election result while the INEC official complained of poor network.
“In the process the suspect assaulted the police officer at the polling unit, including the INEC official.
“On March 16, 2023 at about 1420hrs one Okeke Vivian Chinyere was arrested with INEC Identity Card (TAG) for election duty within Ipaja area of Lagos State. They claimed to have printed the tag from one James Sarah Akintola printing office Ipaja. One Fujistu laptop, 549 pieces of INEC Identity card/tag with different inscriptions namely, Presiding Officer and Collating Officer were recovered.”
Speaking on the arrest for conspiracy and kidnapping, Hundeyin said: “This deals with a case of kidnapping reported sometime in December 2022. The victim quickly reached out to the police and investigation led to the arrest 60-year-old Moruf Yusuf, who was arrested in Oyo State.
Further investigation led to the arrest of 55-year-old Rasak Oyinlola, 65-year-old Dr. Adepetu Olushola, who is the owner of Mighty Hands Herbal, Irawo and 42-year-old Isreal Emenoge at their warehouse, a three-bedroom flat at Lucky Fiber around Ita-Maga.
“The suspects formed their gang in October 2022 and have cumulatively actualised the sum of N 20.7 million.
“Items recovered at the scene of crime include one Nissan Pathfinder with registration number EPE 575 CP, one Toyota Sienna with registration number KRD 582 ES, one handcuff, one taser and one pepper spray. The suspects will be charged to court at the completion of investigation.
“ On March 16, 2023, policemen on routine patrol noticed the suspicious movement of 24-year-old Obiora Ogechukwu around Ilupeju. When stopped and searched, a locally made semi-automatic pistol was found in his possession.
Suspect will be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation.
“On March 13, 2023, based on credible intelligence that a group of Eiye cultists were planning an attack at Igbo-Elerin and its environs, a team of detectives swung into action and arrested 20-year-old Johnson Solomon at his hideout in Ajegunle. One locally made double barrel shotgun with two live cartridges were recovered.”
Hundeyin revealed that on March 19, 2023, 28-year-old, Kpok Godwin Effion and 29-year-old David Godwin were arrested for engaging in intra-community violence around Abule-Ado. One cutlass was recovered from the suspects and the case will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation.
“We got information a few days ago that a truck conveying a brand new Nissan Rogue belonging to the US Embassy was parked somewhere and before the driver came out, the truck was moved, we deployed our intelligence immediately we got the information and I am happy to say that in the early hour of this morning (yesterday), we located the truck and the everything was met intact. Two suspects were arrested and we will hand over the truck to the embassy.
“We appreciate Lagosians for trusting us, for giving us prompt information and we urge Lagosians to disregard fake news. We are out there to arrest peddlers of fake news.
“The Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, Idowu Owohunwa, has assured Lagosians that the security of life and property of residents will continue to be on top of his policing vision for Lagos State,” he added.
