The Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, has successfully dismantled a high-profile armed robbery syndicate responsible for a series of burglaries targeting upscale residential estates across the city, the command confirmed on Friday.
Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Mr. Adegoke Fayoade, while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Onikan, stated that the operation was the result of intelligence-led investigations and coordinated law enforcement efforts.
Four suspects were arrested, including a 25-year-old woman and three men aged 30, 34, and 43, who are believed to have orchestrated and executed the robberies across Lagos’ highbrow communities.
The AIG revealed that a wide array of stolen property was recovered during the operation. Items retrieved include two luxury vehicles, a plastic pistol, crowbars, knives, jewellery, designer watches, mobile phones, iPads, and other valuables.
“This syndicate had been operating with significant organisation and planning, and their activities were creating fear and insecurity among residents of high-end Lagos estates,” he said.
According to Fayoade, the operation followed complaints from residents of Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, who had experienced repeated robberies.
Investigations revealed that the 34-year-old principal suspect had rented a short-let apartment within a highbrow community to facilitate attacks on Parkview, Banana Island, and Lekki Phase One, where he would carry out robberies while wearing hoodies and masks and armed with firearms and dangerous weapons.
During interrogation, the suspect admitted to stealing property estimated to be worth over ₦3 billion, shedding light on the scale and sophistication of the syndicate’s activities.
His confession subsequently led to the arrest of the 43-year-old suspect, who admitted to purchasing stolen gold, diamond jewellery, and luxury watches from the gang.
Investigators found that some of the stolen items had been moved to Cotonou, Benin Republic, to evade recovery by their rightful owners.
Fayoade further disclosed that part of the proceeds from these illicit activities had been used to purchase a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE, valued at approximately N74 million, for the principal suspect.
“The syndicate had turned their criminal activities into a lucrative enterprise, and we are determined to ensure that justice is served,” he said.
The AIG emphasised that investigations into the syndicate are ongoing and promised that all individuals involved would face the full weight of the law.
He urged residents of Lagos and Ogun states to continue reporting suspicious activities through the command’s official social media platforms and email channels to help law enforcement maintain security in their communities.
The channels provided include X (Twitter) @Zone_2PPRO, Instagram @Zone2_policeng, and email: presszonlagos@gmail.com.
The operation is being hailed as a significant success in the fight against organised crime in Lagos, especially in high-income areas that have been frequent targets of armed robbery syndicates.
Fayoade noted that the police remain committed to protecting lives and property, using intelligence-driven strategies to dismantle criminal networks that threaten the security of residents.
The bust serves as a stark warning to criminal elements, particularly those operating in sophisticated and well-planned syndicates, that the Nigerian Police Force is resolute in its efforts to safeguard communities and uphold law and order.
