By Evelyn Usman

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested no fewer than 243 suspects for offences ranging from armed robbery, cultism, murder and traffic robbery between March and June 2026, Commissioner of Police, Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, disclosed on Monday.

The CP revealed this during the working visit of the Coordinating Deputy Inspector-General of Police, South-West Zone, DIG Adegoke Fayoade, to the Command Headquarters in Ikeja.

Giving an overview of the command’s achievements since he assumed office on March 26, 2026, Fatai said the arrests were made through intelligence-driven operations and proactive policing strategies aimed at reducing crime across the state.

A breakdown of the arrests showed that 71 armed robbery suspects, 133 suspected cultists, 35 murder suspects and four traffic robbery suspects were apprehended during the period, bringing the total number of suspects arrested to 243.

The Commissioner also disclosed that the command foiled 28 armed robbery operations, recovered 60 firearms and 625 rounds of ammunition from criminal elements operating within the state.

He said: “Since my assumption of duty on March 26, 2026, the command has continued to record remarkable achievements by reducing the incidence of serious crimes such as cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping, civil unrest, violent protests and targeted attacks on government facilities by aggrieved groups to the barest minimum.

“Where intermittent cases of these crimes have occurred, they have been promptly and diligently investigated, with suspects arrested and prosecuted accordingly.”

Fatai attributed the achievements to the support of the Inspector-General of Police,Olatunji Disu, the Lagos State Government, the Lagos State Security Trust Fund and other stakeholders, as well as the commitment of officers and men of the command.

He said: “With all hands on deck, coupled with the invaluable support of the Inspector-General of Police, the Lagos State Government and other stakeholders in the state, the command has been able to fully implement various crime prevention strategies, intelligence-driven operations and modern policing techniques. Consequently, major crimes including armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, cultism and other related offences have recorded significant declines.”

The CP also highlighted the command’s efforts in traffic management and enforcement, disclosing that 122 vehicles were impounded for driving against traffic, 1,058 motorcycles seized for various traffic violations, while 1,541 vehicles were impounded for illegally using Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, corridors.

He, however, lamented the loss of seven police personnel in the line of duty during the period under review, while three others sustained varying degrees of injury.

“These achievements have not come without sacrifices from some of our gallant officers and men. Seven personnel lost their lives in the line of duty, while three others sustained injuries,” he said.

Fatai assured residents that the command would sustain its crime-fighting momentum and continue to deploy intelligence-led strategies to rid the state of criminal elements and ensure the safety of lives and property.