The Lagos State Command has confirmed the arrest of two members of a gunrunning syndicate with nine automatic rifles, three walkie-talkies, nine international passports, and several rounds of ammunition in the Mushin area of the state.
The suspects, Sherrif Mustapha, 42, and Suturat Lateef, 28, were arrested by detectives attached to the Commissioner of Police tactical unit based in Surulere around 2 am on Thursday.
While two members of the gang, a man and a young lady, were nabbed, a third member of the gang bolted away upon sighting the police team.
The arrest came just hours after police officers detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that had been dumped close to the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A.
There was a bomb scare in Lagos on Thursday.
Meanwhile, those arrested are currently being interrogated at the command headquarters in Ikeja by a team of detectives led by the state Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade.
Items recovered from the gang include two AK-47 rifles, one K2 assault rifle, one red rufer rifle, three pump-action rifles, two locally made single-barrel pistols, five magazines, 57 live cartridges, 70 5.56mm live ammunition, 27 9mm ammunition, one expended 5.56mm ammunition, one dagger, three walkie-talkies, and nine international passports.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest and the recovery of arms and ammunition.
Hundeyin said the arrest and recovery were made following timely information from members of the public.
“This morning at about 1 am, responding to a distress call about the presence of armed men on Agoro Street, Mushin, our tactical team based in Surulere swiftly moved in and arrested Sherrif Mustapha, aged 42, and Suturat Lateef, aged 28, while one other escaped.
“The suspects led the police to number 1, Moshalashi Street, Mushin where the following were recovered: two AK-47 rifles, one K2 assault rifle, one red rufer rifle, three pump-action rifles, two locally made single-barrel pistols, five magazines, 57 live cartridges, 70 5.56mm live ammunition, 27 9mm ammunition, one expended 5.56mm ammunition, one dagger, three walkie-talkies, and nine international passports,” he said.
Hundeyin said an investigation is currently ongoing to arrest the fleeing member of the gang and to determine their intentions.
