The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, has disclosed that four suspected kidnappers who were neutralized at Jakande Gate in the Ejigbo area of Lagos spent four days in the state finalizing their plans before launching an attack on May 24, 2026. Fatai made this revelation while presenting the command's operational breakthroughs for May 2026, which included foiling kidnapping attempts, arresting armed robbery and cultism suspects, and recovering stolen vehicles, firearms, ammunition, and cash linked to criminal activities.
Gang Specialized in Targeting Wealthy Businessmen
Speaking on the kidnapping incident, the police commissioner stated that the gang specialized in targeting wealthy businessmen and typically entered Lagos to carry out attacks on unsuspecting victims. According to him, police operatives received intelligence that the gang was planning to strike and abduct a prominent businessman. He further disclosed that additional intelligence linked the gang leader, identified as Ifeanyi, also known as “Ifeko,” to the training of one Henry Asoona, the alleged leader of the billionaire kidnappers earlier neutralized at the Ladipo International Spare Parts Market in 2024.
Operation Details
Fatai said Ifeanyi, who is reportedly based abroad, came to Lagos alongside gang members from the South-East to carry out the operation. He stated that police operatives responded with superior firepower, resulting in the death of four gang members, while another suspect escaped with bullet wounds. The commissioner added that within the period under review, the command arrested 10 suspects and recovered double-barrel pump-action guns, three AK-47 rifles, two submachine guns, a revolver, a short pistol, one fabricated pistol, three locally made pistols, six magazines, 42 rounds of live ammunition, a dummy gun, a TVS motorcycle, an axe, and other weapons.
Other Arrests and Recoveries
Fatai also disclosed that on May 23, 2026, police officers acting on intelligence in connection with an ongoing cultism investigation stormed a criminal hideout in Igando and arrested 31-year-old Waliu Olaleye, the alleged leader of the Aiye Confraternity group in the area. During a search conducted at his residence, operatives recovered a locally made double-barrel pistol concealed inside the ceiling of the apartment. The commissioner further revealed that on May 24, 2026, at about 2:00 a.m., operatives responded to reports of hoodlums robbing residents around Ikola and adjoining communities while riding on a motorcycle. On sighting the police, the three suspects fled, abandoning the TVS motorcycle with registration number EKY 732 QP. A search conducted on the motorcycle led to the recovery of a locally fabricated Beretta pistol concealed on it.
Commitment to Crime Prevention
Fatai said the successes recorded by the command in May underscored the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and proactive crime prevention strategies. He assured residents that there would be no hiding place for criminal elements anywhere in Lagos State.
