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By Emmanuel Adeleke
Operatives of the Lagos Police Command have dismantled an illegal gun manufacturing factory in Idata Village of Ibeju-Lekki area of the state.
The state Public Relation Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this while parading 32 suspects on Tuesday.
He said among the 32 were two blacksmiths; Musiliu Gbenga, 21, and Owolabi Azeez, 22, who worked in the arm factory.
They were paraded alongside 30 other suspects for various crimes ranging from cultism to stealing and illegal possession of firearms.
They were alleged to be selling the fabricated arms to criminals.
Parading the suspects at the conference hall of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, Hundeyin said the arrests were made in one month, adding that “Based on actionable intelligence on a blacksmith who fabricated firearms for onward sale to criminals around Idata Village in Ibeju-Lekki, operatives of the Command busted the factory and arrested two suspects.
“Three single-barrel locally-made pistols, one double-barrel locally-made gun, one single-barrel locally-made gun, two single-barrel locally-made long gun, 10 expended cartridges, twelve long pipes, two drilling machines, one gas cylinder, one vehicle and other fabricated tools were among the items recovered from the factory,” he said.
According to him, one of the suspects was a wanted notorious cultist popularly known as Skipo, who was arrested at about 11:45pm on October 11, 2023 over his alleged involvement in the killing of a rival cultist in a hideout in Yaba area of Lagos State.
“Ganiu Yusuf, aka Skipo, aged 23, was arrested in possession of two 9mm ammunition.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of Ikuologbon Tobi, aka Iku, aged 23; Salaudeen Azeez, aged 27; Sanni Jamiu, aka J-boy, aged 26; Ganiu Muideen, aka Stone, aged 23; Odinaka Ojiakor, aged 26; and Farouk Muibi, aka Ozil, aged 22, in different areas of the state, in possession of two locally made single barrel guns, one double barrel shotgun, three live cartridges, one dagger and different charms. Investigation revealed that they are all cult members,” he added
Hundeyin said the next day, October 13, 2023, five suspected cultists were arrested after receiving complaints that some groups of boys were shooting sporadically around Church Avenue, Ikosi.
Among the paraded suspects “were four traders that were arrested in Alaba Market. They are: Emmanuel Chukwuma, aged 19; Chima Alajemba aged 19; Ogbenna Franklin aged 42 and Chidi Nnaji aged 42.
“They were apprehended based on receipt of complaints from a reputable electricity cable manufacturer, on the adulteration and sales of pirated cables, using their company’s trademark.
“In addition, operatives of the command arrested one Ogbonna Eze, 27, who disguised himself as a dispatched rider to vandalise vehicles by removing brain boxes and other parts.
“The suspects will be arraigned in court at the conclusion of investigation,” he said