Lagos Police Arrest 150 in Massive Raid, Seize 100 Unregistered Motorcycles, Guns, Drugs

The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 150 suspects and the recovery of 100 unregistered motorcycles, firearms, illicit drugs and suspected stolen property during a sweeping security operation that dismantled criminal hideouts around the Oko Filling area of Igando in what residents described as one of the biggest police crackdowns witnessed in the Alimosho axis in recent years.

The disclosure provides the first official account of the dramatic operation that triggered panic on Sunday morning as residents reported heavy gunfire, dozens of police patrol vehicles and thick smoke rising from a sprawling settlement near Oko Filling Bus Stop, close to Alimosho General Hospital.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said the raid formed part of the Command’s ongoing Operation KO S’AYE, an initiative aimed at denying criminals safe havens across Lagos.

According to the statement, the operation commenced at about 5.45am on Sunday after police received credible intelligence on criminal activities around Boolar, Oko Filling Bus Stop, Igando, and other identified black spots within the Area ‘M’, Idimu axis.

The police said operatives drawn from different formations of the Command carried out a coordinated clearance operation to flush out hoodlums and other criminal elements allegedly terrorising the communities.

During the raid, officers arrested 150 suspects and recovered 100 unregistered motorcycles, 54 mobile phones, one double-barrel gun, two single-barrel guns, one locally fabricated double-barrel short gun, two military camouflage uniforms, assorted charms, six generators suspected to have been stolen, substances suspected to be cannabis, and various quantities of other illicit drugs.

The recovery of such a large number of unregistered motorcycles is likely to renew public debate over the growing presence of undocumented commercial motorcycles in parts of Lagos and the security risks associated with their use.

For years, security experts and residents have expressed concerns that motorcycles without registration or traceable ownership can be exploited by criminal groups because they are difficult to identify and track after the commission of crimes.

Law enforcement agencies have also repeatedly linked some violent crimes, including robberies and hit-and-run attacks, to the use of motorcycles that cannot easily be traced.

The seizure also comes against the backdrop of longstanding concerns over the continuous influx of commercial motorcyclists into Lagos from other parts of the country.

While the overwhelming majority are law-abiding citizens seeking legitimate livelihoods, security agencies have maintained that criminal elements sometimes exploit the same movement of people to blend into densely populated settlements and evade detection.

The latest operation underscores the challenge facing law enforcement in distinguishing legitimate operators from those allegedly involved in criminal activities.

Monday’s statement also clarifies many of the questions raised after residents shared dramatic videos and eyewitness accounts on social media during the operation.

Many residents had described an unusually heavy deployment of police personnel, with some claiming they counted more than 15 patrol vans moving through the Igando and Ikotun corridors. Others reported hearing repeated gunshots, while videos circulating online showed the settlement engulfed in flames after the raid.

Although some social media users had speculated that the location served as a terrorist hideout and claimed suspects exchanged gunfire with police, the Lagos State Police Command made no reference to terrorism or any confirmed exchange of fire in its official statement.

Instead, the Command described the location as a criminal hideout occupied by hoodlums and other suspected criminal elements.

Police said all 150 suspects remain in custody while investigations continue to determine the specific role played by each individual.

“The suspects are currently in Police custody, while investigations are ongoing to determine their individual culpability. Those found to have committed criminal offences will be charged to court accordingly,” the statement said.

Commending the operatives who participated in the exercise, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, praised their professionalism and dedication.

He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining Operation KO S’AYE across Lagos to ensure criminals are denied safe havens.

The Commissioner also appealed to residents to continue providing timely and credible intelligence that would enable the police to identify criminal hideouts, apprehend offenders and improve public safety throughout the state.

The latest operation represents one of the largest mass arrests announced by the Lagos State Police Command this year.

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