Two suspects were arrested by operatives of the Lagos Police Command for operating a factory that manufactured firearms to sell to criminals around Idata Village of Ibeju-Lekki area of the state. The command spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this to newsmen, saying that the factory was raided on September 11 at about 4:00 pm following a tipoff.
According to Hundeyin, the raid recovered three single-barrel locally-made pistols, one double-barrel locally-made gun, one single-barrel locally-made gun, two single-barrel locally-made long guns, ten expended cartridges, twelve long pipes, two drilling machines, one gas cylinder, one vehicle and other fabricated tools.
Hundeyin stated that the two suspects arrested for operating the gun factory were among 32 individuals arrested by the police for alleged involvement in various criminal activities across Lagos State in the last one month. While parading some of the suspects at the State Police Headquarters in Ikeja, Hundeyin said the suspects were involved in product adulteration, fabrication of firearms, armed robbery, stealing, and cultism amongst others. The police recovered 25 firearms, including a toy gun, 74 live cartridges, 12 expended cartridges, and 12 long pipes during the period.
Other items recovered during the period were two drilling machines, one gas cylinder, one vehicle, fabricated tools, two daggers, one UTC axe, various charms, and 251 adulterated wires.
Hundeyin also mentioned that on September 18 at about 2:30 pm, operatives of the command arrested a 27-year-old man disguised as a dispatch rider to vandalize vehicles by removing brain boxes and other parts. The police also arrested a wanted suspected cultist and armed robber on October 11 at about 11:45 pm at Yaba area, after killing a rival cultist. Hundeyin said that through the suspect, six others were arrested in Ikorodu area with two locally made single barrel guns, one double barrel shot gun, three live cartridges, one dagger, and different charms.
Hundeyin said that one suspect, whose gang specializes in harassing, intimidating, and extorting members of the public in full military uniform, was arrested on October 2. He also mentioned that other members of the gang fled upon sighting the police.
The command has directed all persons with illegal arms and ammunition to come forward and submit them without getting arrested or prosecuted. Hundeyin said the directive was in compliance with the Inspector-General of Police’s order to mop up arms and ammunition in the hands of non-state actors within their respective jurisdictions.
“The command will continue the clampdown on the illegal fabrication, sales, possession, and use of prohibited firearms in the state,” Hundeyin said. All suspects will be arraigned at the end of investigations.