The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four suspects after intercepting a truck loaded with bags containing military camouflage and cartons of suspected hard drugs allegedly being transported from Lagos to the South-east.
The Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Ikeja, where he highlighted major achievements recorded by the command over the past two weeks.
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Mr Fatai said operatives of the State Tactical Squad intercepted the truck on Saturday night following intelligence reports that the items were being moved out of Lagos through the Lekki-Epe corridor.
According to him, the truck was carrying several sacks containing military camouflage uniforms as well as cartons of different types of drugs.
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“These bags you are seeing here contain military camouflage. We received information and swung into action. The vehicle conveying the sacks was intercepted while moving out of Lagos State, and those carrying them were arrested,” he stated.
The police commissioner stated that four suspects are currently in custody, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other individuals connected to the shipment.
He noted that preliminary findings indicated that the consignment was headed to the eastern part of the country. However, investigators were still working to determine its exact destination and intended use.
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“From the information available to us, the items were being taken somewhere in the East. We are still investigating to unravel those behind it,” he said.
The interception comes weeks after the Nigeria Customs Service seized a luxury bus conveying military camouflage uniforms and illicit drugs along the Sagamu-Ore-Benin Expressway. Customs officials said the vehicle, which was also heading towards the South-east, contained military apparel and narcotics concealed in cartons and hidden compartments, raising fresh concerns among security agencies about the movement of military uniforms outside authorised channels.
Asked whether the intercepted items posed a threat to security in Lagos, Mr Fatai said there was no indication that the uniforms were intended for use within the state.
However, he expressed concern about the possible use of military camouflage by criminal groups operating in other parts of the country.
“With the trend of events across the country, especially in areas affected by banditry and other violent crimes, we have seen criminal elements wearing military uniforms. We do not yet know what these uniforms were meant for, and that is why the investigation is ongoing,” he said.
Foreign nationals arrested
The commissioner also announced the arrest of foreign nationals during a separate operation on Lagos Island.
He said the suspects comprised 14 citizens of Chad, nine from Burkina Faso, four from Benin Republic, four Malians, two Togolese, two Cameroonians and one Guinean.
According to him, many of those arrested were unable to provide satisfactory explanations about their activities in Nigeria.
“All they could tell us was that they were into networking. They could not clearly explain what they were doing in the country,” he said.
Mr Fatai explained that the individuals are being profiled by the State Criminal Investigation Department and would later be handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further action.
He clarified that the suspects were not among the foreign nationals whose activities recently attracted attention on social media, describing them as a separate group discovered through intelligence gathering.
Firearms recovered
Mr Fatai said police operatives also acted on information supplied by residents of an estate in the Ijanikin area of Lagos who reported the presence of suspicious individuals within the community.
The operation led to the arrest of suspects and the recovery of two double-barreled guns and six locally made single-barrel firearms.
He noted that investigations were continuing and that the suspects had provided useful information to investigators.
Police uncover ‘one chance’ syndicate
The commissioner further disclosed that police operatives had dismantled a syndicate involved in “one chance” robberies in the state.
He stated that investigations revealed the existence of a suspected financier who allegedly rented vehicles for members of the gang and deployed them to various locations where they carried out their operations.
According to him, the suspected kingpin remains at large, but detectives are closing in on him based on information obtained from arrested members of the syndicate.
“We are on the trail of the person funding the syndicate. The suspects we have arrested are giving us useful information, and we are confident we will apprehend him,” he said.
Probe of Mushin explosion
The commissioner also addressed concerns over a recent explosion in the Mushin area of Lagos.
He said police explosives experts were still analysing materials recovered from the scene and had yet to determine the exact cause of the blast.
“There was an explosion, and our Explosive Ordnance Disposal operatives are still working on materials recovered from the scene. We will provide a full briefing when investigations are concluded,” he noted.
Investigation into ammunition parcel
Mr Fatai also confirmed that the command was investigating a case involving the Managing Director of First Bank, who reportedly received a parcel containing two rounds of live ammunition.
He said the incident was reported to the police after the parcel was delivered to the official’s residence and collected by a security guard.
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“When the parcel was opened, two live rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were found inside. It is a serious matter, and investigations are continuing,” he said.
The commissioner revealed that no suspect had been arrested in connection with the case, although the complainant had mentioned individuals he suspected could be linked to the incident.
He added that the command remained committed to combating criminal activities and ensuring the safety of residents across Lagos State.
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