Ndudi Anyim
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 408 cultists and 255 armed robbery suspects between January and mid- March, this is as it said 99 murder cases were handled within the same period.
According to the Commissioner of Police (CP) Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, who gave the Command’s score card in the period under review, 232 arms and 273 ammunitions were also recovered, while 75 robberies were reportedly foiled.
Odumosu who briefed journalists on the modest achievements of the Command on Monday, said 263 vehicles were also recovered, with 91 rape and defilement case recorded.
Speaking on how the arrests were made, Odumosu said the Command had harnessed all resources within its reach and instituted proactive strategies to enforce laws and orders in all areas which include traffic, criminal and health related issues, especially COVID-19 protocols in the State.
“ It is not out of point to state that the efforts of the command have paid off in suppressing various criminal activities as well as traffic lawlessness by recalcitrant drivers, motorcyclists and hoodlums who have been causing mayhems and engaging in other criminal acts like cultism, armed robbery, land grabbing, gangsterism, hooliganism, sexual abuses and domestic violence, ” he said.
“ 127 gender-based cases, 1,592 hoodlums, 532 suspects arrested for traffic offences, 103 fatal accidents recorded, 2953 motorcycles were impounded for traffic offences, 82 vehicles contravened traffic laws, 598 suspects for violating curfew, 22 Bars and Clubs were raided for violating COVID-19 rules, 997 suspects were arrested for COVID-19 offences, 184 motorcycles and 10 tricycles were recovered, ” he added.
While revealing that 3,258 cases were charged to court by the Command, the Police boss said 1,107 of the cases had been convicted.
Odumosu further stated that the cultists will be the first set of suspects to test the new law on 21-year imprisonment for cultists in Lagos State.