Eradication of Criminal Hide Outs: Area Commander Mushin Joins Lagos Task Force in Raids; 50 Notorious Criminal Suspects Arrested, 48 Bags of Illicit drugs recovered at Akala.

Police in Lagos and the operatives of the Lagos State Task Force on ‘Eradication of Criminal Hideouts’ at the weekend during the enforcement operations, around Akala area of Mushin, on the directive of Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal arrested 50 suspected notorious criminals with 48 full bags of illicit drugs.

The mid-night joint enforcement operations was led by Mr. Soji Akinbayo an Assistant Commissioner of Police with the Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force SP Olayinka Egbeyemi and all Divisional Police Officers under Area ‘D’ command Mushin.

According to the Chairman, Lagos State Task Force SP Olayinka Egbeyemi, those arrested during the raid include 44 males and 6 females, all suspected notorious criminals.

He disclosed further that 48 bags of substances suspected to be Indian Hemp with packs of other illicit drugs such as ‘Novalyn with Codeine Cough Syrub’ and ‘Tuxil-C cough & cold with Codeine’ were recovered during the mid-night raid.

SP Egbeyemi stated that his Agency and other Police Officers are battle ready to maintain ‘Zero Tolerance’ on criminal activities across the State as initiated and directed by the Commissioner of Police.

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

The Chairman who enjoined criminals across the State to turn a new leaf or be chased-away however confirmed that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Mr. Imohimi Edgal directed that all arrested 50 suspected notorious criminals be charge to court for prosecutions. 

One of the suspected male notorious criminal ‘Sunday Adesoye’ aka ‘Malboro’ confessed that ‘Akala’ serves as a ‘Central Market’ for Indian Hemp and illicit drugs to all miscreants and hoodlums across the State. 

He confessed further that he sold an average of N500.000 worth of Indian hemp with other illicit drugs per day to his customers from Obalende, Oshodi, Pen-cinema, Apapa, Lagos Island, and Fadeyi amongst others.

A female suspected notorious criminal ‘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 only buying/selling Indian hemp and not into criminal activities.

All arrested 44 males and 6 females suspected notorious criminals were charged before Magistrate Lateef Owolabi of the Lagos State Mobile Court on 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 and Disorderly manner.

The Prosecuting Counsel Barrister Oluremi Kuku disclosed that after all arrested 50 suspected notorious criminals including 6 females pleaded ‘Not Guilty’ before the court, the Magistrate granted them a bail conditions and the case was adjourned to 15th of November, 2017 for further hearing.

The Lagos State Office of Public Defenders however provided free legal services for all the 50 accused through Barrister Bashiru Abdulsalam who appeared on their behalf during the trial of the case.

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