Lagos CP sets up tactical units to tackle kidnapping, cultism, others

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, has set up three tactical units to tackle the menace of kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism in the state.

The move by the police commissioner is coming following increasing cases of kidnapping for ransom, as well as other violent crimes in various parts of the country.

Fayoade said the tactical units have since been deployed to strategic areas in the state for the protection of lives and property.

He said areas like Ikorodu, Epe, Ojo, Ijanikin, Badagry and Mushin are notorious for cultism and the unit heads have been mobilised to go after leaders of the different secret cult gangs operating in the state.

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He said the arrest of leaders of the cult gangs would send a strong message to the cult groups that it is no longer going to be business as usual.

“Already, the number two and three leaders of a cult gang have been arrested in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

“On January 11, 2024, at about 1am, operatives of the Lagos State Command, upon credible intelligence concerning activities of some hoodlums terrorizing Ikorodu and its environs, swung into action, and arrested 35-year-old Balogun Tola, aka 50; Tunde Oladipupo, 43; Rasa Ridwan, 27; and Abimbola Aro, 29 in connection with cult-related activities,” he said.

According to him, Balogun, Tunde and Rasa were numbers, two and three leaders of a cult gang terrorizing Ikorodu.

“The following items were recovered from them: Three English double barrel guns, one pump action rifle, one reining model 700 rifle, one locally made pistol, 74 rounds of live ammunition, 68 rounds of cartridges, one Beretta pistol magazine, four axes, three daggers and five cutlasses.

“The arms and ammunition and other dangerous weapons recovered from the gang are enough to hold an entire community hostage,” he noted.