The police in Lagos have arrested a 72-year-old self-acclaimed monarch, Lateef Olarinde, his son and three other persons alleged to be the brain behind series of killings and other acts of violence in the Oguntedo and Satellite Town areas of the state.
The other four arrested persons are Yusuf Olarinde, 38; KazeemSadiku, 35; SanniOlarinde, 37, Ayomide and Babatunde Lateef.
Their arrest followed series of complaints by residents of the areas on alleged heinous activities by Olarinde and members of his gang and a consequent order from the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Satellite Division, ChikeOti, to fish out the suspects.
The police said that Olarinde had been on their wanted list for alleged murder and violence in Satellite Town and the adjoining communities.
It was learnt that one of the suspect’s sons had been arrested about a month ago and his confessional statement led to his father’s arrest on July 21, 2020.
Parading the suspects before journalists yesterday, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, described Olarinde as the leader of “the notorious gang terrorising the Satellite Town community and its environs.”
Odumosu said the body of one of the people Olarinde’s gang allegedly murdered was burnt to avoid any traces.
The police commissioner said, “The principal suspect, who claimed to be the ruler of Oguntedo community, has been mobilizing armed men to unleash mayhem on indigenes of the Ashaogun community over a period of time. “Their attacks usually come with sporadic firing and killing of innocent persons. After the attacks, the suspects usually go into hiding.”
Odumosu alleged that on March 18, 2020 and July 18, 2020, the gang killed one person and injured several others.
“Four live cartridges were recovered from the suspects,” he said.