Task Force raids Akala area in Mushin, nabs 50 suspected notorious criminals

LAGOS State Task Force said its operatives arrested 50 suspected notorious criminals with 48 full bags of illicit drugs at the weekend during the enforcement operations tagged “Eradication of Criminal Hideouts” carried out around Akala area of Mushin.

Among the suspects, is Sunday Adesoye a.k.a ‘Malboro,’ who was said to have confessed that ‘Akala’ serves as a ‘Central Market’ for indian hemp and illicit drugs to all miscreants and hoodlums across the state, disclosing that he used to sell an average of N500.000 worth of Indian hemp with other illicit drugs per day to his customers drawn from Obalende, Oshodi, Pen-cinema, Apapa, Lagos Island, Fadeyi, among others.

According to the Task Force, the operations were carried out as directed by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Mr Edgal Imohimi.

Spokesperson of the Task Force, Mr Taofiq Adebayo, said in a statement made available to newsmen that the mid-night joint enforcement exercise was led by Mr Soji Akinbayo, an Assistant Commissioner of Police with the Chairman of the Agency, SP Olayinka Egbeyemi and all Divisional Police Officers under Area ‘D’ Command Mushin.

Giving the breakdown, Egbeyemi disclosed that 44 males and 6 females suspected notorious criminals were nabbed during the raid, disclosing further than 48 bags of substances suspected to be indian hemp with packs of other illicit drugs such as Novalyn with Codeine Cough Syrup and Tuxil-C cough and cold with Codeine were recovered during the joint operations.

Egbeyemi vowed that his Agency and other police officers are battles ready to maintain ‘Zero Tolerance’ on criminal activities across the state as initiated and directed by the Commissioner of Police, Imohimi.

He commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for giving priority to addressing security challenges in the state by supporting the Nigeria Police, including Lagos State Task Force with needed working materials.

Egbeyemi, who enjoined criminals across the state to turn a new leaf or be chased-away, however, confirmed that the State’s Police boss had directed that all arrested 50 suspects be charge to court for prosecutions.

Also another suspect, a female, Mrs Basirat Jimoh a.k.a Iya Suzzy, who hailed from Ibadan in Oyo State, confessed to have been trading in indian hemp and other illicit drugs at Akala area for over 17 years.

She, however, claimed to be engaged only buying and selling india hemp, denying of being involved in criminal activities.

Meanwhile, all the 50 arrested suspects, who were charged before Magistrate Lateef Owolabi of the Lagos State Mobile Court on a 3-count charge of unlawful possession of weed suspected to be indian hemp, trading in indian hemp and conduct likely to cause breach of peace in a disorderly manner, were granted bail and their case adjourned to 15th of November, 2017 for further hearing.