The Lagos State Police Command have recovered a cache of allegedly stolen firearms and a high-value vehicle totaling over ₦636.7 million from suspects who fled during a dramatic raid in the Ojo area of Lagos.
The recovery, confirmed by police spokesperson SP Benjamin Hundeyin on Wednesday, marks a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to curb arms proliferation and vehicle theft in Nigeria’s commercial hub. Sources within the command revealed that the operation stemmed from credible intelligence about a syndicate operating from a hideout in the densely populated Ojo community.
According to Hundeyin, who shared details via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, the raid unfolded in the early hours of Tuesday. “Following credible intelligence, operatives raided a hideout in Ojo where suspects were keeping stolen items,” he posted.
“One AK-47 rifle, two locally made pistols, one Toyota Corolla vehicle valued at ₦636,700,000 (Six Hundred and Thirty-Six Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira), and 13 live cartridges were recovered, ” he added.
The valuation of the Toyota Corolla at ₦636.7 million has raised eyebrows among security analysts, who note it aligns with the premium placed on luxury or customized vehicles in the black market. Eyewitnesses in Ojo described a tense scene as police stormed the location around 2 a.m., with suspects scattering in different directions amid shouts and gunfire exchanges.
“We heard gunshots and people running everywhere,” one resident, who declined to be named for fear of reprisals, told reporters, adding that, “By morning, we saw police towing a car and carrying bags.”
Despite the recoveries, the fleeing suspects remain at large, prompting an intensified manhunt. Hundeyin emphasized the command’s commitment to public safety, stating, “The command is working assiduously to apprehend the fleeing suspects. Lagos is safe. We will continue to make Lagos inhabitable for criminals.”
This incident underscores a rising trend in Lagos, where armed robberies and vehicle hijackings have surged amid economic pressures. Data from the Nigeria Police Force’s 2025 crime statistics, released last month, show a 15% increase in reported firearms recoveries in the South-West zone, largely attributed to inter-state syndicates smuggling weapons from porous borders.
Security experts link such operations to broader networks involved in kidnapping and cult-related violence. “Recoveries like this disrupt supply chains, but we need sustained intelligence and community policing to prevent reoccurrence,” said Dr. Aisha Bello, a criminologist at the University of Lagos. She highlighted the role of tip-offs from residents, crediting Lagosians for their growing vigilance.
The Lagos Police Command has urged the public to provide information on the suspects’ whereabouts via hotlines or anonymous tips. As investigations continue, authorities vow no stone will be left unturned in dismantling the syndicate.
