The Lagos State Police Command has cracked a notorious “one-chance” robbery syndicate operating across the state and arrested 21 suspects.
The Command also recovered 25 vehicles linked to various criminal activities in the state .
At a press conference yesterday at Command headquarters, Ikeja, Commissioner of Police( CP) Olorundare Jimoh, said the breakthrough followed intensified crime-prevention strategies and intelligence-driven operations across the state .
According to him, eight additional suspects were recently arrested in connection with the one-chance robbery gang, bringing the total number of suspects apprehended to 21. Four more operational vehicles used by the syndicate were also recovered, in addition to two earlier seized vehicles.
“The gang operated as a double-edged criminal network,” Jimoh said. “If victims cooperated, they were robbed and released. If they resisted or appeared suspicious, they were detained, taken to a shrine, and their families contacted for ransom under the guise of kidnapping.”
He explained that the criminals typically deployed multiple vehicles across the state, targeting unsuspecting commuters, luring them in under the pretext of public transportation before robbing or extorting them.
Jimoh urged residents to be vigilant, warning against boarding vehicles already occupied by two or three passengers whose destinations are unclear, “In a genuine public transport setting, passengers should be asking where the vehicle is going — not the other way round,” he said.
Jimoh confirmed that most of the suspects have confessed to their roles, while some victims have come forward to identify them.
He said the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Beyond the one-chance syndicate, the police also paraded 25 recovered vehicles linked to various offences, including fraud and vehicle theft. One notable case involved a Toyota Camry 2007 model with Abuja registration number: ABJ 582 LB, which was stolen after its owner left it running while entering a supermarket in the early hours of January 25, 2026.
The suspect, Godspeed, was arrested, and the vehicle was recovered the following day at a stop-and-search point within the area.
Jimoh disclosed the arrest of a suspect behind recent threat messages sent to three Lagos schools, which had sparked panic among parents and school administrators.
Jimoh said two schools in Ikeja GRA and another in Ogombo in Ikorodu received messages warning of fire and bomb explosions.
He said he personally led a rapid response team comprising the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit, Counter-Terrorism Unit, and other tactical squads to the affected schools.
“We conducted a thorough search and no explosive devices were found, and the schools were declared safe,” he said.
Following technical and forensic investigations, the police arrested Chukwem Nenyem a resident of Okota, who was traced to the phone number used to send the threats. Although the suspect claimed he lost his phone months earlier, investigators established that the SIM card remained active and in his possession.
“This was an act intended to cause fear, panic and public disturbance,” Jimoh stated, adding that the suspect would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
The CP reassured Lagos residents that security across the state remains robust, highlighting the strengthening of the School Protection Squad, established by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, to cover Lagos East, West and Central.
He also announced expanded patrols by the Eko Strike Force, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), and a newly introduced Nightlife Patrol Squad to secure entertainment hubs, hotels and recreational centres.
Jimoh further revealed that police operatives recently intercepted vandals removing electronic reflective markers from the Third Mainland Bridge, recovering 154 items from three suspects, who are now facing prosecution.
“As we move further into 2026, Lagosians should go about their lawful activities without fear,” the Commissioner said. “Lagos is safe, our schools are safe, and we remain fully committed to protecting lives, property and investments across the state.”
He said that Lagos is safe for business,adding that there is no threat of insecurity in the state .
