Forty suspected criminals who have been giving residents of Lagos state sleepless night have been arrested by the police.
The state commissioner of police Fatai Owoseni disclosed this on Tuesday, October 6 while parading some suspects before newsmen that police arrested all the suspected robbers last month following information from members of the public and intelligence gathering by crack detectives attached to the special anti -robbery squad Ikeja.
He said: “the police based on information from members of the public, recorded 45 cases in the month of September and 40 armed robbery suspects were arrested with 12 cases of robbery still pending.
“Five of the suspects died during encounter with the police while 2 of them in a bid to escape arrest jumped into the lagoon at Odo-Alaro Maryland and died in the process.
“The police recovered 27 different types of firearms; some of the weapons were said had been abandoned during police stop and search. 64 different calibre of ammunition were recovered; items recovered include locally made pistols, hammers, and cutlass. Different types of fetish materials, facemask and different kinds of face caps.”
CP Owoseni added that the police arraigned 20 suspects in court adding that the police recorded 31 cases of stolen vehicles and 17 murder cases in September.
He said: “The police recorded 31 cases of motor vehicle removal from where they were parked. 15 cars snatched at gun point. 30 vehicles were recovered by the police out of the 46 removed. The command recorded 17 cases of murder.
“The command is using this opportunity to advise members of the public to be conscious of their environment especially now that we are approaching Christmas and New Year. Members of the public should report all suspicious movements and persons to the police. We assure residents and visitors that the police will continue to provide adequate security but we need the cooperation of members of the public.”
