On Wednesday, April 19, 2023 the suspecs were paraded at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja,  as the Commissioner for Police, Lagos State, CP Idowu Omohunwa announced that the command has declared war on criminal elements particularly manufacturers of illegal fire arms in the state.

             The arrested suspects

He stated that the suspects were arrested through the efforts of the command’s Tactical Squads during different operations in the affected areas.

While parading the suspects, the CP said in fulfilment with the promise he made to Lagosians at the time he assumed office and with the backing of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, he formed and equipped the Tactical Squads which have so far recorded applaudable achievements.

He however gave a stern warning to those who are engaged in cultism and violent criminal activities in the state to desist from such acts and get genuine means of livelihood or face the wrath of the law.

The CP said, “The Tactical Squads, We sent them to our area commands, equipped and charge them to operate optimally, not just to identify these cultists but to undertake intelligence operations such that the battle will be taken to safe havens of these so-called cultists.
support their operations, we also deployed unique intelligence because the orientation is that we do not wait for these cultists to strike, we want to be steps ahead of them in order to restore orderliness within the internal security forum of Lagos State”. Omohunwa said the Squads recorded laudable achievements within the first two weeks of Operations.

He however expressed satisfaction towards the coordinated activities of these officers deployed for the special operations, noting that the arrests were made through adventurous, gutsy audacious efforts.

CP added ‘Within the first two weeks, we have made very significant breakthroughs which are noteworthy. ” In the course of this anti-cultism operations, we have mopped up and arrested a total number of 42 cultists in operations carried out in Ijora, Orile, Ebute-meta and ikorodu.” he said.

According to Owohunwa, “the command also recovered these items from the suspects,

Ten firearms,

six locally made short guns,

three locally semi- automated pistols

and one English made pistol.

Others are ;

Three battle axes,

three cutlasses,

three daggers,

three knives,

thirteen live cartridges

and multiple charms.”

“ I am therefore warning the cultists that in line of the promises I made to Lagosians , we will deploy all our operational assets and we will provide the leadership support that will ensure that the special unit of the command sustains the battle against cultists who appeared to be determined to threaten the internal security of Lagos, our value for peace and wish for a stable secured state.   

CP Idowu Owohunwa displaying the recovered items to journalists.

‘‘The Lagos State Command under my watch will deny them the access in a very forceful way. I am also reassuring Lagosians that the battle to rid Lagos State of cultism and violent crimes has started and we will not relent until we restore orderliness across the state. So the cultists and every group that operates on whatever guise should take this as clear and firm warning.

”They have an option of changing for better and get legitimate means of livelihood or they will have the command and the law to contend with.

”We can not continue to allow miscreants who are increasingly arming themselves in senseless warfare under the guise of cultism and inflicting pains on innocent citizens and those they consider as rivals, we can not sit back and allow this to continue,”

The Commissioner sought for cooperation from individuals to supply relevant information to the Command, ” we seek the cooperation of the citizens by way of information and cooperation with us.“I implore them to be proactive by giving intelligence report, we must present a common front to defeat this common enemy called cultism “

” we cannot continue and allow some miscreants who are increasingly arming themselves and engaging in senseless warfare under cultism for no motivation other than to test blood or inflict pains on innocent lives.

‘‘ we cannot in any way sit back as law enforcement agents and allow the situation to continue, so we seek the cooperation of citizens of Lagos State by way of information and cooperation with us we are showing that the best way to fight this war is to be proactive.

“we cannot in any way sit back as law enforcement agents and allow the situation to continue, so we seek the cooperation of citizens of Lagos State by way of information and cooperation with us we are showing that the best way to fight this war is to be proactive.

” We seek citizens cooperation in terms of intelligence gathering in order to defeat these common enemies. ”

The Police boss described cultism as crime that can metamorphose into menace which can jeopardize the internal security of Lagos State.